"I am sure you would not. But when a girl with nothing a year has managed to love a man with two or three thousand a year, and has managed to be loved by him in return,--instead of going through the same process with the curate or village doctor,--it is a success, and her friends will always think so. And when a girl marries a gentleman, and a member of Parliament, instead of--; well, I'm not going to say anything personal,--her friends will congratulate her upon his position. It may be very wicked, and mercenary, and all that; but it's the way of the world." "I hate hearing about the world." "Yes, my dear; all proper young ladies like you do hate it. But I observe that such girls as you never offend its prejudices. You can't but know that you would have done a wicked as well as a foolish thing to marry a man without an adequate income." "But I needn't marry at all." "And what would you live on then? Come Clara, we needn't quarrel about that. I've no doubt he's charming, and beautiful, and--" "He isn't beautiful at all; and as for charming--" "He has charmed you at any rate." "He has made me believe that I can trust him without doubt, and love him without fear." "An excellent man! And the income will be an additional comfort; you'll allow that?" "I'll allow nothing." "And when is it to be?" "Oh,--perhaps in six or seven years." "Clara!" "Perhaps sooner; but there's been no word said about time." "Is not Mr. Amedroz delighted?" "Not a bit. He quite scolded me when I told him." "Why;--what did he want?" "You know papa." "I know he scolds at everything, but I shouldn't have thought he would have scolded at that. And when does he come here?" "Who come here?" "Captain Aylmer." "I don't know that he is coming at all." "He must come to be married." "All that is in the clouds as yet. I did not like to tell you, but you mustn't suppose that because I've told you, everything is settled. Nothing is settled." "Nothing except the one thing?" "Nothing else."