“I'd found Institutions of Research, where there should be no teaching, and students who had demonstrated that they had anything promising in them, in science, literature, languages, history, anything, should have the means and the opportunity to make investigations and do work. See what a hard time inventors and men of genius have; it is pitiful.”
“And how much money do you want for this modest scheme of yours?”
“I hadn't thought,” said Evelyn, patting her father's hand. And then, at a venture, “I guess about ten millions.”
“Whew! Have you any idea how much ten millions are, or how much one million is?”
“Why, ten millions, if you have a hundred, is no more than one million if you have only ten. Doesn't it depend?”
“If it depends upon you, child, I don't think money has any value for you whatever. You are a born financier for getting rid of a surplus. You ought to be Secretary of the Treasury.”
Mavick rose, lifted up his daughter, and, kissing her with more than usual tenderness, said, “You'll learn about the world in time,” and bade her goodnight.
XVI
Law and love go very well together as occupations, but, when literature is added, the trio is not harmonious. Either of the two might pull together, but the combination of the three is certainly disastrous.