“Oh! I’ve guessed it, I have, I have! I know what my ‘source of wealth’ will be!”
“Hoity, toity! I thought you were writing from dictation!” returned her old patron, smiling quite as brightly as herself.
“Yes, sir. Oh, yes, in a minute. Just, please, let me ask you one or two things. May I? Can I?”
“How am I to prevent a headstrong young woman like yourself?”
“Do you believe I could manage them all myself?”
“Manage what? Here, Joanna, please!” called the pleased old gentleman to his sister crossing the veranda.
Miss Brook came and leaned upon the window-ledge, and smiled in upon them. “Well, I must say I don’t know which is the more enthusiastic! Brother, dear, how old are you? Do you contemplate going into the business for yourself?”
“Eighty, my dear, eighty, if a day! But look at the child! Hear her ask me, ‘Can she? May she?’ when already she is feeling herself a millionaire.”
“‘Let me ask you one or two things. May I?’”