MILDRED. He said papa would know him.
MR. TILSBURY. I know him in a business way but not socially. Tell us where you ran across him, Mildred. Why have you kept this acquaintance so secret?
MILDRED. Why, I haven’t kept it secret. Josephine knew all about it. He’s the man who saw me home the day of the parade.
MRS. TILSBURY. That man, but you didn’t tell me he had been to call.
MILDRED. I have not had a chance. You have been so busy with your painting in the morning and your bridge in the afternoon. I have not seen you alone, but I must go, I must not keep Mr. Melvin waiting any longer.
MRS. TILSBURY. Wouldn’t it be better to send for him to come here and let him meet your father. You forget, Mildred, that you are an heiress and that you must not form acquaintances on the street.
MILDRED. Mr. Melvin doesn’t know I am an heiress.
MRS. TILSBURY. Every one knows it. Men make a business of knowing how much money a girl has. They have it printed in a little book like a time-table, “Bradshaw’s” they call it. Only after a girl’s name instead of putting the time the train arrives, they state the amount of her present fortune and the next stop is represented by her future expectations, and “discontinued” means, she has married some one else. All the men carry pocket editions of this book with them so as to avoid mistakes.
MILDRED. I do not think that Mr. Melvin is attracted by my money. He wouldn’t stoop to read such a book as you describe.