“About Lady Julia?” the young man frankly asked. “Is gushing what you call what you’ve done?”
“Say then we’re sticks of Britons. You’re not in any degree at all in love?”
There fell between them, before Vanderbank replied, another pause, of which he took advantage to move once more round the table. Mr. Longdon meanwhile had mounted to the high bench and sat there as if the judge were now in his proper place. At last his companion spoke. “What you’re coming to is of course that you’ve conceived a desire.”
“That’s it—strange as it may seem. But believe me, it has not been precipitate. I’ve watched you both.”
“Oh I knew you were watching HER,” said Vanderbank.
“To such a tune that I’ve made up my mind. I want her so to marry—!” But on the odd little quaver of longing with which he brought it out the elder man fairly hung.
“Well?” said Vanderbank.
“Well, so that on the day she does she’ll come into the interest of a considerable sum of money—already very decently invested—that I’ve determined to settle on her.”
Vanderbank’s instant admiration flushed across the room. “How awfully jolly of you—how beautiful!”
“Oh there’s a way to show practically your appreciation of it.”