"Suppose we leave it in this way," Mr. Craven said, addressing
apparently some independent stranger. "If, at the end of a year, Miss
Elmsdale is of the same mind, let her write to me and say so. That
course will leave her free enough, and it will give us twelve months in
which to turn round, and see what we can do in the way of making his
fortune. I do not imagine he will ever be able to count down guineas
against her guineas, or that he wants to do anything so absurd. But he
is right in saying an heiress should not marry a struggling clerk. He
ought to be earning a good income before he is much older, and he shall,
or my name is not William Craven."
I got up and shook his hand, and Helena kissed him.
"Tut, tut! fie, fie! what's all this?" he exclaimed, searching
sedulously for his double eyeglass--which all the while he held between
his finger and thumb. "Now, young people, you must not occupy my time
any longer. Harry, see this self-willed little lady into a cab; and you
need not return until the afternoon. If you are in time to find me
before I leave, that will do quite well. Good-bye, Miss Helena."
I did not take his hint, though. Failing to find a cab--perhaps for want
of looking for one--I ventured to walk with my beautiful companion up
Regent Street as far as Oxford Circus.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222