"Sensible girl!" Mallien stood up and wiped his bearded mouth. "Well, now that we understand one another----?"
"Do we understand one another?" asked Dorinda, irritated by the whole unnecessary conversation.
"Yes!" replied her father, tartly. "I have given my consent to your marriage taking place at an early date----"
"Because you want the five hundred a year to buy the blue sapphire."
"Don't be silly. And I have warned you against letting that flipperty-flap Carrington gain too much influence over Rupert."
"A quite unnecessary warning," said the girl, coldly. "You don't like Mr. Carrington, because he held his own against you."
"Insolent beast!" growled Mallien, bristling. "And I think you said that you did not like him yourself."
"I said that I did not trust him; but he is amusing enough to like as a companion for all that."
"You'll find him very amusing when he rifles Rupert's pockets," sneered the gentle parent, fuming at her opposition.
"I don't think that there is the least chance of his doing that, as Rupert--I said this before--is well able to look after himself. Besides, you have no grounds for saying that Mr. Carrington is a scamp."