_Sym._ Well, my dear, very little on this point; you see it don’t much matter to me whom Cheviot marries. So that he marries some one, that’s enough for me. But, however, _your_ anxiety is natural, and I will gratify it. (_Opens letter and reads._) “Sir,--In reply to your letter, I have to inform you that Evan Cottage is certainly in England. The deeds relating to the property place this beyond all question.” _Min._ In England! _Miss T._ (_sinking into a chair_). This blow is indeed a crusher Against such a blow I cannot stand up! (_Faints._) _Min._ (_on her knees_). My poor Belinda--my darling sister--love--oh forgive me--oh forgive me! Don’t look like that! Speak to me, dearest--oh speak to me--speak to me. _Miss T._ (_suddenly springing up_). Speak to you? Yes, I’ll speak to you! All is _not_ yet lost! True, he is not married to me, but why should he not be? I am as young as you! I am as beautiful as you! I have more money than you! I will try--oh how hard will I try! _Min._ Do, darling; and I wish--oh how I wish you may get him! _Miss T._ Minnie, if you were not the dearest little friend I have in the world I could pinch you! [_Exit BELINDA._ _Sym._ (_who has been reading the other letter_). Dear me--how terrible! _Min._ What is terrible, dear papa? _Sym._ Belvawney writes to tell me the Indestructible Bank stopped payment yesterday, and Cheviot’s shares are waste paper. _Min._ Well, upon my word. There’s an end of _him_! _Sym._ An end of him. What do you mean? You are not going to throw him over? _Min._ Dear papa, I am sorry to disappoint you, but unless your tom-tit is very much mistaken, the Indestructible was not registered under the Joint-Stock Companies Act of Sixty-two, and in that case the shareholders are jointly and severally liable to the whole extent of their available capital. Poor little Minnie don’t pretend to have a business head; but she’s not _quite_ such a little donkey as _that_, dear papa. _Sym._ You decline to marry him? Do I hear rightly? _Min._ I don’t know, papa, whether your hearing is as good as it was, but from your excited manner, I should say you heard me perfectly. [_Exit MINNIE._ _Sym._ This is a pretty business! Done out of a thousand a year; and by my own daughter! What a terrible thing is this incessant craving after money! Upon my word, some people seem to think that they’re sent into the world for no other purpose but to acquire wealth; and, by Jove, they’ll sacrifice their nearest and dearest relations to get it. It’s most humiliating--most humiliating! _Enter CHEVIOT, in low spirits._ _Ch._ (_throwing himself into a chair; sobs aloud_). Oh Uncle Symperson, have you heard the news? _Sym._ (_angrily_). Yes, I _have_ heard the news; and a pretty man of business _you_ are to invest all your property in an unregistered company!