"Poor child," he said to himself, "I have certainly nothing very good to tell her; and I have undoubtedly no time to waste over her this morning."
Aloud, however, he said to his clerk—
"Ask Miss Mainwaring to step this way—and, Dawson, order my trap to be at the door in ten minutes."
"I won't keep you very long, Mr. Danesfield," began Primrose, in a quick and rather nervous manner for her.
Mr. Danesfield was always the soul of politeness, however irritable he might feel.
"Sit down, my dear young lady," he said; "I am delighted to see you, and I can give you exactly five minutes."
"I want to ask you two questions," began Primrose. "The questions are short. They are about money; and you understand all about that."
"Not all, my dear girl—money is far too great a theme to be wholly comprehended by one single individual."
Primrose tapped her foot impatiently—then, after a brief pause, she raised her clear brown eyes, and looked full at the banker.
"How much money have we in the bank, Mr. Danesfield?"