"Then," said Florence, still speaking gravely and taking the lead, which completely astonished her sister Brenda, "don't you think you did exceedingly wrong to waste all that money on us when you knew that by and by we should have nothing?" Mr Timmins turned rather red. "I sent you the account in full, didn't I, Brenda?" he said. "You sent me an account," said Brenda; "but, to tell you the truth, I haven't read it yet." "Oh!" said Mr Timmins, with a groan. "How exactly like all other women you are. Nothing will make a woman careful with regard to money. The fact is, she needs a husband to look after her. I wish you two were provided with good husbands, that I do. But there--no one will look at a penniless girl in these days, even though she is as pretty as my friend Florence." Florence coloured very high. She looked full at Brenda. Then she said quickly-- "There is one man who will look at a penniless girl, and marry her too, if she wishes to marry him." "What do you mean?" said Mr Timmins. "I am glad you have spoken of it, Florence," said Brenda. "Even if you had not, I should feel it my duty to do so." "Oh, tell him yourself, tell him yourself!" said Florence. She sprang from her seat by the fire. "Tell Him when I am not in the room. I want him to know: I want you two to talk it over. Is there no private room where I can go while you are talking it over, Mr Timmins? Is this your only private room?" Mr Timmins looked quite excited: nay, more--he looked delighted. "Do you see that door, Florence?" he said. "Open it; and you will find a little room with a fire. A clerk may be sitting at his table writing letters for me, but he won't trouble you. Here is to-day's copy of _The Times_, my dear: you can take this with you to read. An intelligent, well-educated girl ought to read her _Times_ every day. I have ordered lunch to be here in a quarter of an hour; so you had better go at once if you really wish Brenda to tell me your story." Florence got up. She felt red all over. There was a tingling sensation down her back. She was half ashamed and half proud. Her lover was assuming a magnitude in her eyes. He must really be a most heroic person to wish to marry her even though she had not a penny. According to Mr Timmins, men never did marry penniless girls in these days, even though the girls were beautiful. She quickly reached the shelter of the little room, shut the door behind her and, sitting down with her back to the clerk, pretended to read _The Times_. Meanwhile, Mr Timmins turned anxiously to Brenda. "What does this mean? what is it, Brenda?" he said. "Why, Flo--she is quite a child: how old is she, Brenda?" "Eighteen," said Brenda at once. "Just a year younger than I am." "Well, tell me all about it."