“Where is the use? You ought to know, mamma, without being told.”
“Of course I ought, child—only I am so stupid. Would he be dark or fair?”
“Dark,” answered the young girl, bending over her work.
“And clever, I suppose? Of course. And slender, and romantic to look at?”
“Oh, don’t, mamma! Talk about something else.”
“Why? I am not sure that we might not agree about the ideal.”
“No!” exclaimed Mamie with a little half scornful laugh. “We should never agree about him, because I would like him poor.”
“You can afford to marry a poor man, if you please,” said Totty, thoughtfully. “But would you not be afraid that he loved your money better than yourself?”
“No indeed! I should love him, and then—I should believe in him, of course.”
“Then I do not see why you should not marry your ideal after all, my dear. Come, darling—we both know whom we are talking about. Why not say it to each other? I would help you then. I am almost as fond of him as you are.”