"Why, if there were any generous interpretation needed or expected, surely it should have come first of all from me. The outside world might be excused for thinking this or that of Mr. Bethune; but I was constantly with him; and then, look at the relations that existed between Maisrie and myself. I thought I was doing enough in the way of generosity when I tried to shut my eyes to certain things; whereas I should have tried to see more clearly. I might have understood—if any one. I remember now Maisrie’s saying to me on one occasion—it was about that book on the Scottish-American poets—she said quite piteously: ’Don’t you understand? Don’t you understand that grandfather can persuade himself of anything? If he has thought a thing over, he considers it done, and is ready for something else.’ And then there was another time——" "Come, come," said Mr. Thompson, good-naturedly, "I don’t see you have much to reproach yourself with. You must admit that that affair—if he really did see the proof-sheets in New York—looked pretty bad. You say yourself that Hugh Anstruther was staggered by it——" "Yes, he was," said Vincent, "until I explained that the money had been repaid to Lord Musselburgh, and also that I had no doubt Mr. Bethune considered himself, from his knowledge of the subject, quite entitled to publish a volume on the other side of the water. Mr. Ross’s book was published only on this side—at least, that is my impression." "Did you tell Anstruther who repaid the money to Lord Musselburgh?" Mr. Thompson asked, with a shrewd glance. "No," answered Vincent, looking rather shame-faced. "Ah, well," the banker said, "a freak of generosity is very pardonable in a young man, especially where a young lady is concerned. And you had the means besides. Your father is a rich man, isn’t he?" "Oh, yes, pretty well." "And you—now forgive my curiosity—it only arises from my interest in Margaret—I dare say you are allowed a sufficient income?" "I have more money than I need," said Vincent, frankly, "but of course that would not be the case if I married Maisrie Bethune, for then I should have to depend on my own resources. I should have to earn my own living." "Oh, earn your own living? Well, that is very commendable, in any case. And how do you propose to earn your own living?" "By writing for the newspapers." "Have you had any experience?" Maisrie’s ’second father’ continued. "Yes, a little; and I have had fair encouragement. Besides, I know one or two important people in the newspaper world." "And what about your seat in Parliament?" "That would not interfere: there are several journalists in the House." The banker considered for a little while. "Seems a little hazardous, doesn’t it, to break away from a certainty of income?" he asked, at length. "Are you quite convinced that if you married Margaret your relatives would prove so implacable?"