“On my salary to be sure,” said Ralph, “and on the two hundred which Evereld has left.”
“You are over young yet to get much of a salary in London, and, even if we succeeded in getting you an engagement there, who can tell how long you would be secure of keeping it? Then living and rent is much higher in London, and Miss Ewart has never been used to anything except the very best.”
“But why do you speak of London?” said Ralph. “Do you mean to give me the sack, Governor, if I marry?”
Macneillie turned and looked at him in some surprise.
“I naturally concluded that having gained some experience with me you meant to go off at the earliest opportunity. That is the way of the world. You don’t mean that you intend to bring your wife to travel with us?”
“Why not? It is often done. Harden’s wife used to go about with him, they say.”
“Oh, of course it is often done, but after the sort of life Miss Ewart has been accustomed to——”
Ralph broke in eagerly.
“We talked it over very carefully, I told her exactly what it would be like, and she is only longing for the fun of it all. Indeed she made a very audacious proposal.”
“What was that?” said Macneillie pleased and interested in spite of himself.