"And Anderson has got into no trouble at all. He does his duty here uncommonly well. I never had less trouble with any young fellow than I have had with him. No licking him into shape,--or next to none,--and he has a very nice private income. You together would have plenty, and could live here till you had settled on apartments. A pair of ponies would be just the thing for you to drive about and support the British interests. You think of it, my dear, and you'll find that I'm right." Then Florence escaped from that room and went up to receive the much more severe lecture which she was to have from her aunt. "Come in, my dear," said Lady Mountjoy, in her most austere voice. She had a voice which could assume austerity when she knew her power to be in the ascendant. As Florence entered the room Miss Abbott left it by a door on the other side. "Take that chair, Florence. I want to have a few minutes' conversation with you." Then Florence sat down. "When a young lady is thinking of being married, a great many things have to be taken into consideration." This seemed to be so much a matter of fact that Florence did not feel it necessary to make any reply. "Of course I am aware you are thinking of being married." "Oh yes," said Florence. "But to whom?" "To Harry Annesley," said Florence, intending to imply that all the world knew that. "I hope not; I hope not. Indeed, I may say that it is quite out of the question. In the first place, he is a beggar." "He has begged from none," said Florence. "He is what the world calls a beggar, when a young man without a penny thinks of being married." "I'm not a beggar, and what I've got will be his." "My dear, you're talking about what you don't understand. A young lady cannot give her money away in that manner; it will not be allowed. Neither your mother, nor Sir Magnus, nor will I permit it." Here Florence restrained herself, but drew herself up in her chair as though prepared to speak out her mind if she should be driven. Lady Mountjoy would not permit it! She thought that she would feel herself quite able to tell Lady Mountjoy that she had neither power nor influence in the matter, but she determined to be silent a little longer. "In the first place, a gentleman who is a gentleman never attempts to marry a lady for her money." "But when a lady has the money she can express herself much more clearly than she could otherwise." "I don't quite understand what you mean by that, my dear." "When Mr. Annesley proposed to me he was the acknowledged heir to his uncle's property." "A trumpery affair at the best of it." "It would have sufficed for me. Then I accepted him." "That goes for nothing from a lady. Of course your acceptance was contingent on circumstances."