"That was ever made a fool of," suggested Dick, when the lady paused.
"Well, we shall say that ever made a fool of himself--that frees every one else from responsibility," laughed the lady. "Dick, the man who is wise enough to make a fool of himself every now and again is indeed the wise man. But Tom is a mighty pretty fellow. He is coming up to London, too."
Dick's face became grave. He shook his head.
"Past a jest? Pray, who was talking of jesting?" she asked quite gravely.
"Would you not regard his going to London in the light of a jest?" he asked.
"Not I, sir!" she cried. "On the contrary, I have done my best to dissuade him from such a project, knowing as I do, how serious a thing it would be for him. But you boys are all equally self-willed, Dick; I can do nothing with any of you. I am as the potter's clay in your hands."
"How does Tom Linley mean to live when he goes to London?" he asked, after a pause.
"Lud, sir! how should I know?" she cried very prettily, holding up her hands.
"You do not mean to take him up to London with you to starve?" he said.
"And this is the man who swore just now that I had the kindest heart among living women!" she cried. "Mr. Sheridan, did you come hither to-day solely to talk about Tom Linley?"
"Yes," he said, "solely to talk about Tom Linley. My dear creature, I shall have to throw myself on the kindness of your heart before I have done, for I want to tell you the truth."
"You had much better refrain, sir, from venturing into such an unexplored region," said she. "I have noticed that when people threaten you with telling the truth they invariably become rude."
"It will not be rudeness on my part to suggest to you that it is not quite fair for you to stake counters in a game where the other player stakes gold."
"In other words?--pray let me have the interpretation of this fable."
"In other words, Tom Linley has staked his heart against--against----"
"Against what, sir? Against mine, do you say?--against my heart--my kind heart? And you hold that my heart is a counter--something spurious--something base?"
"Nay, madam, I was not so foolish as to fancy for a moment that your heart had any connection with this game. But that is where you do not play fair. You know that poor Tom Linley's heart is laid at your feet, and yet----"
