"Yes," Mrs. Condrip confessed, " I do think it
dangerous; but how can I speak of him otherwise?
I dare say, I admit, that I shouldn't speak of him
at all. Only I do want you for once, as I said just
now, to know."

"To know what, my dear?"

"That I should regard it," Marian promptly re
turned, " as far and away the worst thing that has
happened to us yet."

"Do you mean because he hasn't money?"

"Yes, for one thing. And because I don't be
lieve in him."

Kate was civil, but perfunctory. " What do you
mean by not believing in him?"

"Well, being sure he ll never get it. And you
must have it. You shall have it."

"To give it to you?"

Marian met her with a readiness that was prac
tically pert. " To have it, first. Not, at any
rate, to go on not having it. Then we should
see."

"We should indeed! " said Kate Croy. It was
talk of a kind she loathed, but if Marian chose to
be vulgar what was one to do? It made her think
of the Miss Condrips with renewed aversion. " I
like the way you arrange things I like what you
take for granted. If it's so easy for us to marry
men who want us to scatter gold, I wonder we any
of us do anything else. I don't see so many of
them about, nor what interest I might ever have

[[44]]

p043 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p044w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p045

v?