"Her father will not accept me as his son-in-law." "On what grounds?" Ferdy shrugged his shoulders. "Mr. Clarke, according to Prudence, does not approve of the match." "Have you been doing anything to make him disapprove?" asked Clarice, quickly and pointedly. "No!" replied Ferdy, indignantly, "I don't know why you are always suspecting me of doing wrong, Clarry. I'm straight--that is, I am as straight as most fellows." "That is not saying much," rejoined Clarice, sarcastically. "Well, then, I am as straight as Ackworth." "That you are not, Ferdy. Anthony always speaks the truth." "So do I. You have no right to say otherwise." "Ferdy, all your life you have told half-truths, and those are much worse than right-down lies." "Oh, hang it, that's too bad. I tell you what it is, Clarry. If you have such a bad opinion of me, I am not fit for your society. Give me my income, and let me go out of your life." "I'll do nothing of the sort," said Clarice, sternly. "You are not fit to look after your own life. If I gave you the two thousand a year--and remember I cannot do that until the two years are past--you would simply go headlong to ruin. No, Ferdy, you must marry Prudence, and she will look after you." "How impossible you are, Clarry," cried Ferdy, greatly exasperated. "I tell you that I should like to marry Prudence, but she won't allow me to. Both herself and her father are against my becoming her husband. You can ask them, if you doubt me." "Oh, I believe what you say," remarked Clarice, readily. "Then what am I to do?" "Leave it to time to right things. I dare say Mr. Clarke will change his mind again." "He may not for years, even if he changes it at all," grumbled Ferdy, "and I can't wait on his pleasure for ever." "If you love Prudence you can." "I don't know. I do love her, but she doesn't love me," said the young man, sulkily, "and if I can't get love in one quarter, I must in another. Do you see?" "Oh, yes," said Clarice, cruelly. "I see that you love only one person, and that is yourself. What's the other woman's name?" Ferdy started, and grew red. "The--the--the--other woman?" "Yes. You talk about getting love in another quarter. In the Dumps quarter, I dare say." "She's a lovely girl, and as good as they make them," said Ferdy, in a furious way; "don't you say a word against her, Clarry, for I won't stand it. You must respect her----" "As my future sister-in-law?" "Yes," said Ferdy, getting up to add dignity to his declaration. "Oh," remarked Miss Baird, coolly; "so you have proposed?" "I have proposed, because Prudence chucked me, and Zara has accepted my hand." "How delightfully you have arranged it all, Ferdy. Does Miss Dumps know about your income?" "She knows everything, and she is willing to wait for two years until I come in for my money." "How considerate of her. She must love you very much, Ferdy, to be willing to accept you with a paltry two thousand a year."