‘Rich, then, I hope?’
‘Tolerably well-to-do. I dare say he has three or four thousand a year!’
‘Gracious heavens! Why, that’s magnificent.’
But Whelpdale did not look quite so much satisfaction as his words expressed.
‘Is it to be soon?’ he inquired.
‘At the end of the season. Make no difference to Dora and me, of course.’
‘Oh? Really? No difference at all? You will let me come and see you—both—just in the old way, Milvain?’
‘Why the deuce shouldn’t you?’
‘To be sure, to be sure. By Jove! I really don’t know how I should get on if I couldn’t look in of an evening now and then. I have got so much into the habit of it. And—I’m a lonely beggar, you know. I don’t go into society, and really—’
He broke off, and Jasper began to speak of other things.
When Milvain re-entered the house, Dora had gone to her own sitting-room. It was not quite ten o’clock. Taking one set of the proofs of his ‘Reardon’ article, he put it into a large envelope; then he wrote a short letter, which began ‘Dear Mrs Reardon,’ and ended ‘Very sincerely yours,’ the communication itself being as follows:
‘I venture to send you the proofs of a paper which is to appear in next month’s Wayside, in the hope that it may seem to you not badly done, and that the reading of it may give you pleasure. If anything occurs to you which you would like me to add, or if you desire any omission, will you do me the kindness to let me know of it as soon as possible, and your suggestion shall at once be adopted. I am informed that the new edition of “On Neutral Ground” and “Hubert Reed” will be ready next month. Need I say how glad I am that my friend’s work is not to be forgotten?’
This note he also put into the envelope, which he made ready for posting. Then he sat for a long time in profound thought.
Shortly after eleven his door opened, and Maud came in. She had been dining at Mrs Lane’s. Her attire was still simple, but of quality which would have signified recklessness, but for the outlook whereof Jasper spoke to Whelpdale. The girl looked very beautiful. There was a flush of health and happiness on her cheek, and when she spoke it was in a voice that rang quite differently from her tones of a year ago; the pride which was natural to her had now a firm support; she moved and uttered herself in queenly fashion.
‘Has anyone been?’ she asked.
‘Whelpdale.’
‘Oh! I wanted to ask you, Jasper: do you think it wise to let him come quite so often?’
‘There’s a difficulty, you see. I can hardly tell him to sheer off. And he’s really a decent fellow.’
‘That may be. But—I think it’s rather unwise. Things are changed. In a few months, Dora will be a good deal at my house, and will see all sorts of people.’
‘Yes; but what if they are the kind of people she doesn’t care anything about? You must remember, old girl, that her tastes are quite different from yours. I say nothing, but—perhaps it’s as well they should be.’
‘You say nothing, but you add an insult,’ returned Maud, with a smile of superb disregard. ‘We won’t reopen the question.’
‘Oh dear no! And, by-the-by, I have a letter from Dolomore. It came just after you left.’
‘Well?’
‘He is quite willing to settle upon you a third of his income from the collieries; he tells me it will represent between seven and eight hundred a year. I think it rather little, you know; but I congratulate myself on having got this out of him.’
‘Don’t speak in that unpleasant way! It was only your abruptness that made any kind of difficulty.’
‘I have my own opinion on that point, and I shall beg leave to keep it. Probably he will think me still more abrupt when I request, as I am now going to do, an interview with his solicitors.’
‘Is that allowable?’ asked Maud, anxiously. ‘Can you do that with any decency?’
‘If not, then I must do it with indecency. You will have the goodness to remember that if I don’t look after your interests, no one else will. It’s perhaps fortunate for you that I have a good deal of the man of business about me. Dolomore thought I was a dreamy, literary fellow. I don’t say that he isn’t entirely honest, but he shows something of a disposition to play the autocrat, and I by no means intend to let him. If you had a father, Dolomore would have to submit his affairs to examination.
I stand to you in loco parentis, and I shall bate no jot of my rights.’
‘But you can’t say that his behaviour hasn’t been perfectly straightforward.’
‘I don’t wish to. I think, on the whole, he has behaved more honourably than was to be expected of a man of his kind. But he must treat me with respect. My position in the world is greatly superior to his. And, by the gods! I will be treated respectfully! It wouldn’t be amiss, Maud, if you just gave him a hint to that effect.’
‘All I have to say is, Jasper, don’t do me an irreparable injury. You might, without meaning it.’
‘No fear whatever of it. I can behave as a gentleman, and I only expect Dolomore to do the same.’
Their conversation lasted for a long time, and when he was again left alone Jasper again fell into a mood of thoughtfulness.
By a late post on the following day he received this letter:
‘DEAR MR MILVAIN,—I have received the proofs, and have just read them; I hasten to thank you with all my
