“No, sir.”
“And your salary now is——?”
“Four hundred a year, sir.”
“And how far do you think that will go? You could start a home with it, of course, but do you think you could make Muriel happy with it? She’s a dainty little lady, and when she’s free from home authority she will want to be going out to dances and theaters. How far do you think four hundred will take her?”
“Not very far, sir.”
“Then what do you propose to do? Long engagements are a bad thing.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, then, what do you think of doing?”
Roland, who had expected Mr. Marston to make his daughter a generous dress allowance, was uncertain how to answer this question. Indeed, he made no attempt.
“I suppose,” said Mr. Marston, “that what you were really thinking was that I should make you some allowance.”