'I can see something of that in his letters,' said the mother thoughtfully. 'Not much.'
'You will see more of it when he comes. What do you say in answer to his inquiries?'
'About the Gainsboroughs? Nothing. I never allude to them.'
Silence. Mr. Dallas read his paper comfortably. Mrs. Dallas's brow was still careful.
'It would be like him as he used to be, if he were to make the journey to New York to find them. And if we should seem to oppose him, it might set his fancy seriously in that direction. There's danger, husband. Pitt is very persistent.'
'Don't see much to tempt him in that direction.'
'Beauty! And Pitt knows he will have money enough; he would not care for that.'
'I do,' said Mr. Dallas, without ceasing to read his paper.
'I would not mind the girl being poor,' Mrs. Dallas went on, 'for Pitt will have money enough—enough for both; but, Hildebrand, they are incorrigible dissenters, and I do not want Pitt's wife to be of that persuasion.'
'I won't have it, either.'