'Have you made this one unwittingly?' he asked with sudden eagerness.
Hazel dropped his arm and stood off with the air which Mr.
Falkirk knew very well.
'This one does not happen to exist,' she said. 'But I meanI should think you were so used to the reality, sir, that the idea would not give you much trouble. And there is one thing more I ought to say.'
'I am not troubled by an idea, Miss Hazel. What is the other thing?'
Not an easy one to speak, by the shewing, as she stood there gathering her forces. But the words came clear and low.
'It will be a good day for me, Mr. Falkirk,I shall have more hope of myself,when I am as willing to be poor for the sake of other people, asMr. Rollois. Would you feel more sure of my being taken care of, if you knew that he spent all he has upon himself?'
'Yes. He is spending it upon a vagarya chimera; and that is as much as to say he is throwing it into a quicksand. He will go down with it.'
'I wonder what will be the result of that?' said Wych Hazel, in the cool way she could sometimes assume when she felt particularly hot.
'I don't like to look at the result,' said Mr. Falkirk. 'I will go, if you please, Miss Hazel.But if you will be so good as not to oppose me, the result shall not be your destitution.'
'Oppose you!' said Hazel. 'With such an object in view!'But then the mocking tone changed, and she said sorrowfully'I beg your pardon, Mr. Falkirk!But you are vexed, sir, and then you always vex me. AndI was not just ready for this to-night.'