'Why is this?'
'Because I am quite content; and when one is so there is no more to be desired. As our proverb says: "Content is nae bairn o' wealth."'
'I cannot understand your point of view,' said Annot. 'I should like gorgeous dresses—Worth's best; fine horses, with skins like satin, and glittering harness; stately carriages, such as we see in the parks; tall footmen, well-liveried and well-matched; a house in Park Lane——'
'And lots of poor to feed?'
'I never think of them—they can take care of themselves, if the police don't.'
'Oh, Annot!'
'And I should like my wedding presents to be the wonder of all, and duly catalogued in all the 'Society' papers—services in exquisite silver, the épergne of silver and gold—spoons and forks without number—ice buckets and biscuit boxes—coffee sets in Dresden china, écru, and gold—toilette suites in crystal and gold—Russian sables, fans, gloves, jewels—a Cashmere shawl from the Queen, of course—a lovely suite of diamonds and opals from the brother-officers of the bridegroom—shoals of letters of congratulation, and a present with each!'
'In all this you say nothing of love,' said Hester, with a curl on her sweet red lip, 'and without it all these things were worthless.'
'And without them it were useless,' replied the mercenary little beauty, with a perfect coolness that kindled an emotion of something akin to contempt rather than amusement in the breast of Hester.
'As Claude Melnotte says, after describing his palace by the Lake of Como, "Dost like the picture?"' asked Annot laughingly.