'We will have them all, for future use,' said Rollo smiling. 'The time will come, but I believe it is not yet. The people are hardly ready. It wouldn't be good economy. You do not understand that subject, I know, but you will excuse me for alluding to it. Now for business.' Drawing Wych Hazel away from the breakfast table to another table which stood in the room, he opened a bank cheque book which lay there. 'Do you know what this is?' 'I see.' 'This is for your use and behoof. And this other little book contains—or will contain—your account with the bank. They will keep the account, and all you have to do is to send it to the bank every quarter to be written up. There, in your cheque book, opposite each cheque, you register the amount drawn by that cheque; so as to know where you are. Verstanden?' 'Yes,' said Wych Hazel, 'I have watched Mr. Falkirk often over his.' 'The capital which is represented by ten thousand a year,' Dane went on with business quietness, 'I have settled, absolutely and without reserve, upon you. That amount will be yearly paid in to your account, to be drawn out at your pleasure.' 'Why do you let me have more than I used to have?' she said quickly. Rollo's lips played a little as he answered,—'I think it is good for your health to be duchess in your own right somewhere.' 'What makes you say that?' 'Conviction.' 'Ah hush!—I am talking business. Did Mr. Falkirk talk to you about it?' 'No. But Mr. Falkirk did go to Dr. Maryland; and urged that he should prevail with me, before I married you, to settle your fortune—or as much of it as possible—upon yourself. Dr. Maryland refused to urge me, and would do no more than represent to me Mr. Falkirk's wishes. So then Mr. Falkirk wrote to me himself, though as he said, with very little hope of doing any good. And I don't think he did any good'—added Dane demurely. 'He did his best to vex me first.' She stood looking down at the cheque book, her face a study of changing colours. No,—this would have been done, though Mr. Falkirk had held his peace. 'Thank you!' she said, suddenly and softly. 'Thank me for what?' said Rollo gayly. 'For giving you back a little piece of your power, after you had lodged it all with me? How did Mr. Falkirk vex you?' 'I suppose really he wanted to vex you,' said Hazel. 'And he knew how to choose his words. Olaf'—the soft intonation coming back again—'you are very good! But what makes you think I want power?' 'Habit is said to be second nature.' 'Are you afraid of my missing what I used to have?' 'How should you miss it?' said he laughing. 'Are you less of a witch than you used to be?' She shook her head thoughtfully. 'I do not quite know what I am. Do you expect me to spend all this money wisely?' 'I shall never ask how you spend it, Wych. Only this I would say,—_spend it_. We have far too much now to go on accumulating.'