Her companion emphasized the gratification of the plural pronoun by a squeeze. "I hope so, sweet." "That will be very nice, won't it? I will marry you even if you have to take a place in father's office; but it will be so much better if we haven't to explain to him that we are poor after all." Mensmore laughed. "It is not so bad as that in any case," he said. "This Springbok Mine speculation will probably turn out well, but I look to Wyoming to yield the best and most permanent results." "Why is Mr. Corbett coming to London?" "Because it is only in London that capital can be obtained for large undertakings, and if the Wyoming Goldfield is really a valuable one we may be able to realize some portion of our interests for a considerable sum. Anyhow, he wants to consult me." "Do you both own the ranch?" "Yes; it was a joint transaction, but I found the money." "And why did you come away?" "Well, we made very little out of it, Phil. As Corbett has two sisters, I thought it best to leave what there was for him. He was absurdly grateful about what he called my generosity in the matter, but now that the land has proved valuable, of course all that nonsense is at an end, and we go half-shares in the deal." "Two sisters! They pretty?" "What! Jealous already! They are very nice, but much older than their brother, and he is my senior by two years." Miss Browne was graciously pleased to accept this explanation. She knitted her smooth brow into a reflective frown as she said: "Mr. Corbett arrives on the 4th. It is now January 30th. You really ought to go home, Bertie." "Now my dear, sensible little woman is talking like her own self." "I see I must give you permission. But I did hope we would see Florence together." "So we shall. I'll tell you what I can do. I shall write to Corbett to-day, care of the steamer at Liverpool, tell him to go to my flat, and stay there a few days until I arrive, and go home myself at the end of next week. He is sure to spend some time seeing the sights before tackling business, and he can do that as well without me as if I were there. A line to my old housekeeper, who has a spare key, will make the place habitable for him. Happy thought, I'll do it." "And another happy thought! I'll come and watch you do it." She did not notice that Mensmore's face clouded at this otherwise pleasant intimation. Nevertheless, he raced off with her to the saloon and seated himself at the writing-table. But before he placed pen to paper, Phyllis bending over him meanwhile, he suddenly exclaimed, in a tone of annoyance: "Now, what a bore this is. I don't know how to address the letter to make sure of reaching him at once, and it is very important that it should not miss him." "Father will know. Let us ask him." "No," said Mensmore judicially, "I will row across the harbor to the Florio-Rubattino office, find out the exact thing, and send off the letter. Back in half-an-hour. Be good!"