Dora drew forward a little hassock, and settled herself at his feet with a sigh. He bent forward, and looked into her eyes questioningly.
“Are you quite sure my going away didn’t make any difference to you, Dora?”
“How foolish you are, Dick! That wretched will of your grandfather’s made it necessary that I should marry you, and marry you I must, or you’ll be a pauper. Father, who was opposed to the match at one time, is now all eagerness for it. I hate to think that money has any part in our marriage.”
“Never mind about that. Your father was all eagerness that you should marry Ormsby at one time, wasn’t he?”
“Dick, I thought I told you never to mention that horrid man’s name again.”
“You are quite sure he is a horrid man?”
“Dick, don’t be absurd.” She flushed hotly. “What hurts me about our marriage is that you, the man, have no option in the matter. I am just a stepping-stone to wealth, so far as you are concerned, and I—I don’t like it.”
“Why not, darling?”
“Because it would have been so much nicer, if—if you had come to me with nothing, despised and 342 friendless. Then, I could have shown my love by defying the whole world for your sake.”
“Thanks, darling, but I prefer the money, if you don’t mind.”