She was a good-looking woman still, though past fifty: her abundant hair had gone pleasantly gray, her features were fine, her brown eyes were quick and bright: her lips were firm, and her chin straight. She was tall and of good figure: she was clad in black silk, with a large gold chain about her neck and good lace upon her shoulders. She wore many rings and a bracelet. She liked, in fact, the appearance of wealth as well as the possession of it: she therefore always appeared in costly raiment: her house was furnished with a costly solidity: everything, even the bindings of her books, was good to look at: her one man-servant looked like the responsible butler of a millionaire, and her one-horse carriage looked as if it belonged to a dozen. The game went on. Presently, the clock struck ten. 'Time,' said the lady. 'We must stop. Now then. Let us see--I make it seventy-three shillings.--Thank you. Three pounds thirteen--an evening not altogether wasted.--And now, Sydney, light your cigar. You know I like it. You shall have your whisky and soda--and we will talk business. There are half-a-dozen things that I want to consult you about. Heavens! why cannot I be admitted to the Exchange? A few women among you--clever women, like myself, Sydney--would wake you up.' They talked business for an hour, the lady making notes in a little book, asking questions and making suggestions. At last the cousin got up--it was eleven o'clock--and went away. Then her mother turned to Elsie. 'It is a great pity,' she said, 'that you take no interest in these things.' 'I dislike them very much, as you know,' said Elsie. 'Yes--you dislike them because they are of real importance. Well--never mind.--You have been out with the young man, I suppose?' 'Yes--we have been on the river together.' 'I supposed it was something of the kind. So the housemaid keeps company with the potboy without consulting her own people.' 'It is nothing unusual for me to spend an evening with George. Why not? You will not suffer me to bring him here.' 'No,' said her mother with firmness. 'That young man shall never, under any circumstances, enter this house with my knowledge! For the rest,' she added, 'do as you please.' This was the kind of amiable conversation that had been going on day after day since Elsie's engagement--protestations of ceasing to interfere, and continual interference.