She made the remark in sincere defence of Hughie, just as a mother might say, "Ah, but he always had a weak chest!" when her offspring comes in last in the half-mile handicap. But Jimmy Marrable, being a man, took the suggestion as a reproach.
"Nonsense!" he said testily. "Hughie has as hard a head as any man I know. What do you mean by running him down? Have you any complaint to make of the way he has managed your affairs—eh?"
"None whatever," said Joan promptly.
"But—bless my soul!" cried Jimmy Marrable; "I forgot! You haven't got—" He paused, and appeared to be working out some abstruse problem in his head. "Look here, Joey," he continued presently, "if you aren't married to Hughie, what are you living on?"
Joan stared at him in astonishment.
"On the money you left behind for me," she said. "What else?"
The old gentleman regarded her intently for a moment, and then said:—
"Of course: I forgot. I suppose Hughie pays it to you quarterly."
"Yes—into my bank account," replied Miss Gaymer with a touch of pride.
"How much?"