Mrs. Belswin laughed again at Toby's verbal dexterity, and then began to talk about Maxwell, which was the subject nearest her heart. The lady wished to know all about Archie's position, so as to see if he was a suitable lover for Kaituna, and the man being a firm friend of the love-lorn swain, lied calmly, with that great ease which only comes from long experience. "Mr. Maxwell is a great friend of yours, isn't he?" "Oh, yes! We were boys together," "You're not much more now. What is his profession?" "He's an engineer! Awfully clever. He'd have invented the steam-engine if Stephenson hadn't been before him." "Would he indeed? What a pity he wasn't born before the age of steam. By the way, how is he getting on in his profession?" "Splendidly! He's been in China, building railways, and at the end of the year he's going out to Buenos Ayres to build a bridge." "He's got no money, I suppose?" "Well, no! He's not rich; but he's got great expectations." "Has he? But you can't marry on great expectations." "No; I can't, but Archie can." "Indeed! You forget there are always two people to a bargain of marriage." "There's double the number in this case." "How so?" "There's Archie, Miss Pethram, Mrs. Belswin, and Sir Rupert Pethram." There was a pause after this, as the lady was pondering over the situation. Toby had his eyes fastened on the two figures at the dial, and he smiled. Mrs. Belswin, looking up suddenly, caught him smiling, and spoke sharply-- "Mr. Clendon! I believe you to be a sensible man. If my belief is correct, stop laughing and listen to me." Toby became as serious as a judge at once. "I am not blind," continued Mrs. Belswin, looking at him, "and I can see plainly what is going on. As you know, I am responsible to Sir Rupert Pethram for his daughter's well-being, and this sort of thing won't do." "What sort of thing?" asked Toby, innocently. "Oh, you know well enough. Mr. Maxwell making love to my charge is ridiculous. Sir Rupert would never consent to his daughter marrying a poor engineer, and I'm not going to have Kaituna's happiness marred for a foolish love-affair." "But what can I do?" "Discontinue your visits here, and tell your friend to do the same." "He won't do what I ask him." "Then I'll take Kaituna away." "It's no use. He'll follow. Archie's the most obstinate fellow in the world, and he's too much in love with Miss Pethram to give her up without a struggle. Why, do you know, Mrs. Belswin, he gave up a good billet at Buenos Ayres because it would have taken him away from her." "I thought you said he was going out there at the end of the year?" "So he is. But it's not half such a good billet. The one he has given up is worth two hundred pounds a year more." "And he gave it up for the sake of Kaituna?" "Yes! He's madly in love with her." "He was very foolish to jeopardise his success in life because of a love-affair, particularly when nothing can come of it."