“How much do you require? When do you expect to be rich enough?” “When I have three times my present fortune--and that will be--who can tell? I may suddenly discover a treasure like Aladdin’s, and then, Winnington, my happiness will be perfect.” “I think you should have made acquaintance with the magician, or even got possession of the ring, before you asked her hand,” said Winnington Harvey with a changed tone. “She is the nicest girl in the world, and loves you with all her heart; but if you have to wait till fortune comes--” “She will wait also, willingly and happily. She has told me so. I love her with the freshness of a heart that has never loved anything else. I love you too, Winnington, for her sake; and we had better not talk any more on the subject, for I don’t like your perpetual objections to the engagement.” Winnington, as usual, yielded to the superiority of his friend, and was more affectionate in his manner to him than ever, as if to blot out the remembrance of what he had recently said. They went on in silence with their respective works, and chipped stones, and impaled butterflies till a late hour. “Don’t be alarmed, Winnington,” said Arthur, with a smile, as he lighted his bed-candle that night. “I am twenty-one and Lucy not nineteen. The genii of the lamp will be at our bidding before we are very old, and you shall have apartments in the palace, and be appointed resident physician to the princess.” “With a salary of ten thousand a year, and my board and washing.” “A seat on my right hand, whenever I sit down to my banquets.” “Good. That’s a bargain,” said Winnington, laughing, and they parted to their rooms.