"I think Miss Margaret will like this," he said, his face beaming with satisfaction.
Mr. Sandford's face was a study. That a rational being with money waiting for investments, which fact alone was sufficient to fill any man's mind, could be enchanted with a trumpery toy, and actually spend money upon it, was an amazing idea to him, and he looked at Mr. Drayton closely, as though he might see something in his countenance calculated to explain it to him.
"You need not trouble to take gifts to my nieces," he began, gruffly, "especially not to Margaret."
"Why especially not to Margaret?" asked Mr. Drayton, as he once more looked at his purchase with admiring eyes.
"Because Margaret's a mere child, and her life is pretty well arranged for her."
"Well, that is a pity. I think she is a great deal the nicest of the two. I doubt Miss Grace has a touch of pride in her. She looks as if she thought a deal of herself; always begging your pardon for saying so," he added, laughing heartily.
"I am not sure I think pride unbecoming in a girl," said Mr. Sandford, after a moment's reflection, "Miss Rivers is good-looking."
"Now, I don't think her a patch on Miss Margaret," said Mr. Drayton. "Well, it's just as well you told me that her future is settled; I am not at all sure, not at all sure, I might not have been hit."
They left the subject and plunged into other matters, but Mr. Sandford quite forgot to take into account one thing, that the very way to encourage any one to like or care for anything is to put it out of his reach—forbidden fruit is as tempting now as in the days of our first parents, and he never, as far as his own wishes were concerned, did a more unwise thing than in adding this incentive to the slight dawning of admiration Mr. Drayton had for Margaret Rivers.
In the meantime the girls discussed him with all the intemperate feelings of youth, added to the disappointment of his being so exactly the opposite of that coming prince who was to rescue poor Grace from the uncongenial home.