“Occasionally; but I don’t care much about kissing. We discuss the questions of the day.”
“Poor man!”
“I am sure that he likes it, and we shall get along admirably. I am the stronger nature, and I feel reasonably certain that I shall acquire great influence over him, and make an exemplary man of him.”
“Great heavens!” thought Mrs. Forbes. “A plain passionless pseudo-intellectual girl reforming an English profligate! What a sight for the gods!”
“I hope papa will come round before the wedding, because I wish only the interest of my dowry settled on us, and it takes a man to hold out on that point. That would give me the upper hand in a way. You have not written to him since we left, have you?”
“No.”
“Don’t you think it is time?”
“I intend to write by to-morrow’s steamer.”
“Do make him really understand that he is forcing you to sacrifice the houses and jewels to which you are so much attached.”
“I shall make it as strong as I can.”