Grantley's mind had been set on pleasing Sibylla by smoothing her brother's path. His business interest would enable him to procure a good opening for Jeremy—an opening which would lead to comfort, if not to wealth, in a short time, proper advantage being taken of it.
"Original research?" He smiled indulgently. "There's not much money in that."
"Oh, I've got enough to live on. Sibylla's all right now, and I've got a hundred a year. And I do a popular scientific article now and then—I've had one or two accepted. Beastly rot they have to be, though."
Grantley suggested the alternative plan. Jeremy would have none of it. He turned Grantley's story against him.
"If you could live on sixpence a day out of pride, I can live on what I've got for the sake of—of——" He sought words for his big vague ambitions. "Of knowledge—and—and——"
"Fame?" smiled Grantley.
"If you like," Jeremy admitted with shy sulkiness.
"It'll take a long time. Oh, I know you're not a marrying man; but still, a hundred a year——"
"I can wait for what I want."
"Well, if you change your mind let me know."