"And so it means this. Oh, Rosie, you look lovelier than ever, and I'm
as happy as a king. It means this. Your father is the greatest genius
in the world. He buys my property for sixty thousand pounds--sixty
thousand. That's over two thousand a year for me, and he makes a
company out of it with a hundred and fifty thousand capital. He says
that, taking ten thousand out of it for expenses, there will be a
profit of eighty thousand. And all that he gives to you--eighty
thousand, that's three thousand a year for you; and sixty thousand,
that's two more, my dearest Rosie. You remember what you said, that
when you married you should step out of one room like this into another
just as good?"
"Oh, Reggie"--she sank upon his bosom--"you know I never could love
anybody but you. It's true I was engaged to old Lord Evergreen, but
that was only because he had one foot--you know--and when the other
foot went in too, just a day too soon, I actually laughed. So the pater
is going to make a company of it, is he? Well, I hope he won't put any
of his own money into it, I'm sure, because of late all the companies
have turned out so badly."
"But, my child, the place is full of gold."
"Then why did he turn it into a company, my dear boy? And why didn't he
make you stick to it? But you know nothing of the City. Now, let us sit
down, and talk about what we shall do--Don't, you ridiculous boy!"
[Illustration: "OH, ROSIE. YOU LOOK LOVELIER THAN EVER!"]