I am tired of housekeepers . And I want to see your children at my knees before I die , Eric , and I 'm an old man now . '' `` Well , your wish is natural , father , '' said Eric gently , with a glance at his mother 's picture . `` But I ca n't rush out and marry somebody off-hand , can I ? And I fear it would n't exactly do to advertise for a wife , even in these days of commercial enterprise . '' `` Is n't there ANYBODY you 're fond of ? '' queried Mr. Marshall , with the patient air of a man who overlooks the frivolous jests of youth . `` No . I never yet saw the woman who could make my heart beat any faster . '' `` I do n't know what you young men are made of nowadays , '' growled his father . `` I was in love half a dozen times before I was your age . '' `` You might have been ` in love . ' But you never LOVED any woman until you met my mother . I know that , father . And it did n't happen till you were pretty well on in life either . '' `` You 're too hard to please . That 's what 's the matter , that 's what 's the matter ! '' `` Perhaps I am . When a man has had a mother like mine his standard of womanly sweetness is apt to be pitched pretty high . Let 's drop the subject , father .
Here , I want you XXXXX read this letter -- it 's from Larry . ''
at before in like of that till to until with