"I know it," chuckled Philip again.
"Well, then, do you think I am going to let you ruin our prospects, and rob us, as you propose doing?"
"Gently, gently there! Not so fast with your robbing!"
"It is the truth that I am speaking, and you know it; you have said so yourself. Margaret is the soul of the company--she is our greatest draw. If she goes without my being able to get another girl as pretty in her place----"
"You can't do that; I defy you."
"Hold your tongue, hot-head!--without our getting another girl nearly as pretty in her place----"
"That's better," interrupted the incorrigible Philip; "but you'll have a rare hunt even for such a one. They don't grow on gooseberry bushes."
"Our business is as good as ruined without her, or some one in her place; and do you suppose I'll stand quietly by and see that done? Besides, think of the money Margaret herself is saving----"
"That for the money!" said Philip, with a snap of his fingers. "Money-making's a man's business, not a woman's."
"That's true, and I like you the better for saying so. But leaving Margaret out of the question, there are persons in our company the happiness of whose life hangs upon their being able to save a certain amount of money within a certain time. Not only their happiness but the happiness of helpless ones who are dearer to them than their heart's blood, depends upon this."