"I'll do nothing of the sort," said Clarice, sternly. "You are not fit to look after your own life. If I gave you the two thousand a year--and remember I cannot do that until the two years are past--you would simply go headlong to ruin. No, Ferdy, you must marry Prudence, and she will look after you."
"How impossible you are, Clarry," cried Ferdy, greatly exasperated. "I tell you that I should like to marry Prudence, but she won't allow me to. Both herself and her father are against my becoming her husband. You can ask them, if you doubt me."
"Oh, I believe what you say," remarked Clarice, readily.
"Leave it to time to right things. I dare say Mr. Clarke will change his mind again."
"He may not for years, even if he changes it at all," grumbled Ferdy, "and I can't wait on his pleasure for ever."
"I don't know. I do love her, but she doesn't love me," said the young man, sulkily, "and if I can't get love in one quarter, I must in another. Do you see?"
"Oh, yes," said Clarice, cruelly. "I see that you love only one person, and that is yourself. What's the other woman's name?"
Ferdy started, and grew red. "The--the--the--other woman?"
"Yes. You talk about getting love in another quarter. In the Dumps quarter, I dare say."
"She's a lovely girl, and as good as they make them," said Ferdy, in a furious way; "don't you say a word against her, Clarry, for I won't stand it. You must respect her----"
"Yes," said Ferdy, getting up to add dignity to his declaration. "Oh," remarked Miss Baird, coolly; "so you have proposed?"
"I have proposed, because Prudence chucked me, and Zara has accepted my hand."
"How delightfully you have arranged it all, Ferdy. Does Miss Dumps know about your income?"
"She knows everything, and she is willing to wait for two years until I come in for my money."
"How considerate of her. She must love you very much, Ferdy, to be willing to accept you with a paltry two thousand a year."
"She does love me," said Ferdy, with sulky dignity.
Clarice laughed. "Really, Ferdy, you must have a large heart. Why not turn Turk or Mormon?"
"It's all very well to laugh," said Ferdy, with a wounded air; "but if you had been chucked by one you loved, you would seek love elsewhere. I am certain of that."