“Prevail! And you doubt if you would prevail without telling her of the coin?” cried Clarence derisively.
“She is the last person in the world to care for money; in fact, it is a disadvantage in her eyes, as I happen to know.”
“The young woman must be indeed a rara avis!” observed Clarence, with an insolent laugh.
“But,” pursued the other, “if I ask her to accept me, I should like her to know all about me.”
“Pollitt’s pearl barley, and all! You don’t think that will go against the grain—see? Eh? Not bad!”
“I wish you could be serious for five moments,” exclaimed Jervis, angrily, “and let me finish what I am saying. I am not the least ashamed of Pollitt’s pearl barley—nor would I begin by having a secret from her.”
“Whatever you might come to later, eh? And Uncle Dan—have you thought of him? Is he to be let into the news about the young lady, or will you begin by having a secret from him?”
“Of course I shall tell him at once.”
“Oh! very proper indeed! Well now, I suppose we have talked over everything, and at any rate I have talked myself into first-class thirst! You are to keep five hundred pounds to settle up with in case of accidents, and you are to continue to hold your tongue, and keep up your present rôle with every one but a certain young lady—that’s about it?”
“Yes, I suppose that’s about it,” acquiesced Mark, rising and taking his cap.