"With Miss Cass,—two old maids together! I know nothing further."
"But about money? That is if I am justified in asking."
"What would you not be justified in asking? Do you not know that I would tell you every secret of my heart,—if my heart had a secret? It seems that I have given up what was to have been my fortune. There was a claim of £12,000 on Grex. But I have abandoned it."
"And there is nothing?"
"There will be scrapings they tell me,—unless Percival refuses to agree. This house is mortgaged, but not for its value. And there are some jewels. But all that is detestable,—a mere grovelling among mean hundreds; whereas you,—you will soar among—"
"Oh Mabel! do not say hard things to me."
"No, indeed! why should I,—I who have been preaching that comfortable doctrine of hypocrisy? I will say nothing hard. But I would sooner talk of your good things than of my evil ones."
"I would not."
"Then you must talk about them for my sake. How was it that the Duke came round at last?"
"I hardly know. She sent for me."