'Perhaps, then, I should go and talk with your father, and let the miner fellow come here and talk with you.' 'Please do not call him the miner fellow. His name is Mr. Kenyon. It is not difficult to remember.' 'I know his name well enough. Shall I send him to you?' 'No. I want to talk with you in spite of your disagreeableness. And what is more, I want to talk with you about Mr. Kenyon. So I wish you to assume your very best behaviour. It may be for your benefit.' The young man indulged in a sarcastic laugh. 'Oh, if you are going to do that, I have nothing more to say,' remarked Edith quietly, rising from her chair. 'I meant no harm. Sit down and go on with your talk.' 'Listen, then. Mr. Kenyon has the option of a mine in Canada, which he believes to be a good property. He intends to form a company when he reaches London. Now, why shouldn't you make friends with him, and, if you found the property is as good as he thinks it is, help him to form the company, and so make some money for both of you?' 'You are saying one word for me and two for Kenyon.' 'No, it would be as much for your benefit as for his, so it is a word for each of you.' 'You are very much interested in him.' 'My dear cousin, I am very much interested in the mine, and I am very much interested in you. Mr. Kenyon can speak of nothing but the mine, and I am sure my father would be pleased to see you take an interest in something of the sort. I mean, you know that if you would do something of your own accord--something that was not suggested to you by him--he would like it.' 'Well, it is suggested to me by you, and that's almost the same thing.' 'No, it is not the same thing at all. Father would indeed be glad if he saw you take up anything on your own account and make a success of it. Why can you not spend some of your time talking with Mr. Kenyon discussing arrangements, so that when you return to London you might be prepared to put the mine on the market and bring out the company?' 'If I thought you were talking to me for my own sake, I would do what you suggest; but I believe you are speaking only because you are interested in Kenyon.' 'Nonsense! How can you be so absurd? I have known Mr. Kenyon but for a few hours--a day or two at most.' The young man pulled his moustache for a moment, adjusted his eyeglass, and then said: 'Very good. I will speak to Kenyon on the subject if you wish it, but I don't say that I can help him.' 'I don't ask you to help him. I ask you to help yourself. Here is Mr. Kenyon. Let me introduce you, and then you can talk over the project at your leisure.' 'I don't suppose an introduction is necessary,' growled the young man; but as Kenyon approached them, Edith Longworth said: 'We are a board of directors, Mr. Kenyon, on the great mica-mine. Will you join the Board now, or after allotment?' Then, before he could reply, she said: 'Mr. Kenyon, this is my cousin, Mr. William Longworth.'