[amused]

I thought not! You'll see—he wouldn't take it if I'd let you give it to him. A fine man like that wants to make his own way, of course. Mighty few men like to have fun poked at 'em about livin' on their wife's money.

ETHEL

[despairingly]

Oh, I can't make you understand! A settlement isn't a gift.

PIKE

[as if humoring her]

How'd you happen to decide that just a hundred and fifty thousand pounds was what you wanted to give him?

ETHEL

It was Mr. St. Aubyn's father who fixed the amount.[pg 069]