“She talked about the responsibilities of wealth.”
“How could she talk to you in that way?”
“She did––really.”
“Then Caroline is out of reckoning.”
“Between ourselves, I think she was right, Elizabeth. I am positive I should spend any sum of money. What I need is a wife who can make money week by week, year by year––always something coming in; like an opera-singer, for instance. Do you understand?”
“Could you expect me to understand such nonsense? I asked Robert to-day about poor father’s estate. He thinks there may be four or five hundred pounds after paying all debts. Of course you will receive it all. Robert is very kind, but I can see that he would prefer that you were not always at the Court.”
“I daresay he put Caroline up to refuse me.”
“I have no doubt of it. He would consider it a brotherly duty; and to tell the truth, Roland, I fear you would give any woman lots of heartache. I cannot tell what must be done. You have had so 89 many good business chances, and yet never made anything of them.”
“That is true, Elizabeth. If I take to a business, it fails. If I dream of some fine prospect, the dream does not come true. In fact, my dear sister,
| “‘I never had a piece of toast Particularly long and wide, But it fell on the sanded floor, And always on the buttered side.’ |