'Probably; but there will be compensations.'
'And then my father will have to pay another thou——'
'You are developing a remarkable turn for figures, and I notice you do not mix up amounts like some women. I wish you had been as accurate when we first met, and you dropped those artless hints about being heiress to the tune of five or six thousand a year.'
'Oh, good heavens! if I had only known; if I could have foreseen!'
'Ah, exactly. If we could both have foreseen; but as that was a gift denied to us, we married. But if you will excuse me——' Tareling stood up, taking his watch out.
'Well, Talbot, I'll excuse you if you excuse me,' said Laurette, with a sudden change of tone and manner. 'I should have told you before that Ted is going to give me another fifteen hundred pounds at the end of this month—only I must not leave Melbourne at the latest till the season is quite over.'
'Why didn't you tell me this before—when I first spoke of re-letting the house?'
'Well, you see, I thought I would keep all this second cheque for current expenses and the most pressing bills—as you had nearly half of the first lot; but you can have what you need early in October.'
'Oh, well, I suppose I had better tell this fellow circumstances have turned up that prevent our letting the Lodge.'
And with a nod the Honourable Talbot Tareling left the domestic hearth.