"What cards, sir?" "Look at that graceless George! at his conscious vanity!" exclaimed Sir George to the table generally. "He knows who it is that makes the attraction here to Charlotte Pain. Wear her if you can win her, my boy." "Would Charlotte Pain be one worthy to be won by George Godolphin?" quietly spoke Janet. "Rumour says she has thirty thousand charms," nodded Sir George. "I never would marry for money, if I were George," cried Cecil indignantly. "And, papa, I do not see so much beauty in Charlotte Pain. I do not like her style." "Cecil, did you ever know one pretty girl like the 'style' of another?" asked George. "Nonsense! But you can't call Charlotte Pain much of a girl, George. She is as old as you, I know. She's six and twenty, if she's a day." "Possibly," carelessly replied George Godolphin. "Did she ride well to-day, George?" inquired his father. "She always rides well, sir," replied George. "I wish I had invited her to dinner!" said Lady Godolphin. "I wish you had," assented Sir George. Nothing more was said upon the subject; the conversation fell into other channels. But, when the ladies had withdrawn, and Sir George was alone with his sons, he renewed it. "Mind, George, I was not in jest when speaking of Charlotte Pain. It is getting time that you married." "Need a man think of marriage on this side thirty, sir?" "Some men need not think of it on this side forty or on this side fifty, unless they choose to do so: your brother Thomas is one," returned Sir George. "But they are those who know how to sow their wild oats without it." "I shall sow mine in good time," said George, with a gay, half-conscious smile. "Thomas never had any to sow." "I wish you would settle the time and keep it, then," was the marked rejoinder. "It might be better for you." "Settle the time for my marriage, do you mean, sir?" "You know what I mean. But I suppose you do intend to marry some time, George?" "I dare say I shall. It is a thing that comes to most of us as a matter of course; as measles or vaccination," spoke irreverent George. "You mentioned Charlotte Pain, sir: I presume you have no urgent wish that my choice should fall upon her?" "If I had, would you comply with it?" George raised his blue eyes to his father. "I have never thought of Charlotte Pain as a wife." "She is a fine girl, a wonderfully fine girl; and if, as is rumoured, she has a fortune, you might go further and fare worse," remarked Sir George. "If you don't like Charlotte Pain, find out some one else that you would like. Only, take care that there's money with her." "Money is desirable in itself. But it does not invariably bring happiness, sir." "I never heard that it brought unhappiness, Master George. I cannot have you both marry portionless women. Thomas has chosen one who has nothing: it will not do for you to follow his example. The world is before you; choose wisely." "If we choose portionless women, we are not portionless ourselves."