'Very good. But he must have a certain income, so as to ensure the means of an establishment conducted at a certain level.'
'Yes. She need not live in Palace Gardens, but she ought to be able to live—say in Pembridge Square.'
'Quite so. I suppose, with an income of fifteen hundred or so to begin with. If I make her understand so much, you will be satisfied?'
'Perfectly.—My dear Mr. Dering, I really believe you have got the very young man up your sleeve. But how will you persuade her to give up the present intruder?'
'I promise nothing, Hilda—I promise nothing. I will do my best, however.'
Hilda rose and swept back her dress.
'I feel an immense sense of relief,' she said. 'The dear child's happiness is all I desire. Perhaps if you were to dismiss the young man immediately, with ignominy, and were to refuse him a written character on the ground of trying to win the affections of a girl infinitely above him in station, it might produce a good effect on Elsie—showing what you think of it—as well as an excellent lesson for himself and his friends. There is no romance about a cast-off clerk. Will you think of this, Mr. Dering? The mere threat of such a thing might make him ready to give her up; and it might make her inclined for his own sake to send him about his business.'
'I will think of it, Hilda.—By the way, will you and my brother dine with me on Monday, unless you are engaged? We can talk over this little affair then at leisure.'
'With pleasure. We are only engaged for the evening. Now I won't keep you any longer.—Good-bye.'
She walked away, smiling graciously on the clerks in the outer office, and descended the stairs to the carriage, which waited below.