'She may be for me,' said David, throwing his head back and speaking with a certain emphasis and animation. 'But she's a little brick to have given me notice of this thing.' The warmth of these last words produced more effect on Daddy than his previous denials. 'Dora,' he said, looking round--'Dora, do you believe the varmint? All the same, you know, he'll be for marrying soon. Look at him!' and he pointed a thin theatrical finger at David from across the room.' When I was his make I was in love with half the girls in the place. Blue eyes here--brown eyes there--nothing came amiss to me.' 'Marrying!' said David, with an impatient shrug of the shoulders, but flushing all over. 'You might wait, I think, till I've got enough to keep one on, let alone two. If you talk such stuff, Daddy, I'll not tell you my secrets when there are any to tell.' He tried to laugh it off; but Dora's grey eye, glancing timidly round at him, saw that he was in some discomfort. There was a bright colour in _her_ cheek too, and her hand touched her silks uncertainly. 'Thank you for nothing, sir,' said Daddy, unabashed. 'Trust an old hound like me for scenting out what he wants. But, go along with you! I'm disappointed in you. The young men nowadays have got no _blood_! They're made of sawdust and brown paper. The world was our orange, and we sucked it. Bedad, we did! But _you_--cold-blooded cubs--go to the devil, I tell you, and read your Byron!' And, striking an attitude which was a boisterous reminiscence of Macready, the old wanderer flung out the lines: 'Alas! when mingling souls forget to blend, Death hath but little left him to destroy. Ah! happy years! Once more, who would not be a boy?' David laughed out. Daddy turned petulantly away, and looked out of window. The night was dreary, dark, and wet. 'Dora!' 'Yes, father.' 'Manchester's a damned dull hole. I'm about tired of it.' Dora started, and her colour disappeared in an instant. She got up and went to the window. 'Father, you know they'll be waiting for you downstairs,' she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. 'They always say they can't get on without you on debating nights.' 'Stuff and nonsense!' said Daddy, throwing off the hand. But he looked mollified. The new reading-room was at present his pet hobby; his interest in the restaurant proper had dropped a good deal of late, or so Dora's anxiety persuaded her. 'It's quite true,' said David. 'Go and start 'em, Daddy, and I'll come down soon and cut in. I feel as if I could speak the roof off to-night, and I don't care a hang about what! But first I've got something to say to Miss Dora. I want to ask her a favour.' He came forward smiling. She gave him a startled look, but her eyes--poor Dora!--could not light on him now without taking a new brightness. How well his triumph sat on him! How crisply and handsomely his black hair curled above his open brow! 'More secrets,' growled Daddy.