"No indeed, she's rich. Her husband, whom I knew and liked, left her a large fortune." "And on what terms does she enjoy it?" "I haven't the least idea," said Nick. Mr. Carteret considered. "I see. It doesn't concern you. It needn't concern you," he added in a moment. Nick thought of his mother at this, but he returned: "I daresay she can do what she likes with her money." "So can I, my dear young friend," said Mr. Carteret. Nick tried not to look conscious, for he felt a significance in the old man's face. He turned his own everywhere but toward it, thinking again of his mother. "That must be very pleasant, if one has any." "I wish you had a little more." "I don't particularly care," said Nick. "Your marriage will assist you; you can't help that," Mr. Carteret declared. "But I should like you to be under obligations not quite so heavy." "Oh I'm so obliged to her for caring for me----!" "That the rest doesn't count? Certainly it's nice of her to like you. But why shouldn't she? Other people do." "Some of them make me feel as if I abused it," said Nick, looking at his host. "That is, they don't make me, but I feel it," he corrected. "I've no son "--and Mr. Carteret spoke as if his companion mightn't have been sure. "Shan't you be very kind to her?" he pursued. "You'll gratify her ambition." "Oh she thinks me cleverer than I am." "That's because she's in love," the old gentleman hinted as if this were very subtle. "However, you must be as clever as we think you. If you don't prove so----!" And he paused with his folded hands. "Well, if I don't?" asked Nick. "Oh it won't do--it won't do," said Mr. Carteret in a tone his companion was destined to remember afterwards. "I say I've no son," he continued; "but if I had had one he should have risen high." "It's well for me such a person doesn't exist. I shouldn't easily have found a wife." "He would have gone to the altar with a little money in his pocket." "That would have been the least of his advantages, sir," Nick declared. "When are you to be married?" Mr. Carteret asked. "Ah that's the question. Julia won't yet say." "Well," said the old man without the least flourish, "you may consider that when it comes off I'll make you a settlement." "I feel your kindness more than I can express," Nick replied; "but that will probably be the moment when I shall be least conscious of wanting anything." "You'll appreciate it later--you'll appreciate it very soon. I shall like you to appreciate it," Mr. Carteret went on as if he had a just vision of the way a young man of a proper spirit should feel. Then he added; "Your father would have liked you to appreciate it."