“Will the new agent agree to live at the Manor House?” asked the Duchessa, after a long, long interval composed of many silences though some few words. “Will his pride allow him to accept a small material benefit for a short time, seeing what a great amount of material benefit will be his to bestow in the future?”
Antony laughed.
“I told Mr. Danver I wouldn’t use a penny of his money for myself,” he said.
“Oh!” She raised her eyebrows in half comical dismay, which hid, however, a hint of real anxiety. Would his pride accept where it did not bestow in like kind? For other reason than this the bestowal would signify not at all.
“You mind?” he asked smiling.
She looked straight at him.
“Not the smallest atom,” she declared, utterly relieved, since there was no shadow of false pride in the laughing eyes which met her own.
“Ah, but,” said Antony slowly, and very, very deliberately, “I never said I would not use it for my wife.”