The clerks at Mr. Staines' office paid the heiress great attention. It annoyed Toney, and indeed she looked so young and so simple it was difficult to treat her as a great lady, but they all knew she was worth £50,000 a year! You cannot be treated in an ordinary way if you are worth that amount. Toney was shown into the private room at once.
"How are you, Miss Whitburn? Delighted to see you! This is nicer than the telephone."
"Yes. Never quite sure who's hulloing," laughed Toney. "I shan't be long. Do you know Stone House has been begun this week?"
Mr. Staines shook his head.
"It will swallow a large sum of—but you can afford it."
"I've given carte blanche for everything about it The firm is honest and I won't have scamped work. Pups said it never paid. I don't want to ruin the building either, and I want a margin for improvements."
"You have a very good head for business, Miss Whitburn. Now, how can I help you?"
Toney rose from the chair, she felt less cramped standing up.
"Why, ever so much!" She took a paper out of her pocket which was covered with figures. "First, tell me how much I could live on suppose I left Aldersfield House? Not yet; but suppose Aunt and uncle died suddenly, the place goes to a distant cousin who is a Judge in New Zealand, and he has a large family?"
"You would then make a home of your own."