“What childish words you use, Gerald! I couldn’t understand what you meant. No; I suppose I shall be bought complete, with all fittings, but I don’t fancy a heart is mentioned in the inventory.” “Have you really promised to marry this man, Vick?” His cousin put her head on one side and considered. “It hasn’t got quite to that point. The customer hasn’t actually given the order yet, but my mother is an expert saleswoman, and I have no doubt that by the next time you see me I shall have the usual ticket on to show that I am disposed of.” The captain gnawed his mustache as his eyes sought in vain to fix those of the insolent beauty. “Hang it! don’t you care a little bit? I have loved you for years. Does it all go for nothing with you?” Victoria sat up and became business-like. “Stupid fellow, why can’t you look at it rationally, like I do? There, I will give in to you so far as to say that I would much rather you bought me than anybody else. I would even give a discount in your case; you should have me at store prices. But what is the use? We couldn’t live together. You know they separate married couples in the workhouse.” “I have eight hundred a year,” the man protested. “That would pay for my frocks. Any debts?” “Well, I have a little paper out,” he reluctantly admitted. “So I thought. Small income, large debts--” “No, not large debts.” “Several thousands, I have no doubt. Large debts, no occupation--” “Don’t you count the army?” he interrupted. “Certainly not,” was the firm answer. “I mean an occupation by which you can earn a living. No occupation, idle habits, expensive tastes--” “No, Vick!” His tone became one of honest indignation. “No, you can’t charge me with that, you know. I may be idle, but you can’t charge me with extravagance.” “What do you pay for your cigars?” the merciless inquisitor demanded. “A shilling. I get them at a little shop in Jermyn Street that nobody else knows of, and they are worth double the money.” “Gerald!” “No, really, Vick, you have no right to talk to me like that. If there’s one thing that I do pride myself on, it is that I am economical.” “What is the use of being economical on nothing?” She turned and looked him full in the face. “I will be serious with you, Gerald. If you had any means at all, any real income or prospect of it, I would throw over all the millionaires in Christendom to-morrow, but as it is--!” A despairing gesture completed the sentence. “Why can’t you wait for me, then?” exclaimed the desperate captain. “Give me a chance, and I will go out and raid the Transvaal, or do something desperate.” “I didn’t know there was anything very desperate in raiding the Transvaal,” retorted Victoria, resuming her cynical vein. “I thought the worst thing you exposed yourself to was to have poetry written about you in the papers.” A door opened at the end of the gallery, and Gerald hastily rose to his feet.