al snobs myself, and they're pretty
galling. There were one or two men in my crowd at college, their
families had lived on their income for three generations, and they never
dreamed there was anybody in their class out here. I had to show them
a thing or two, right at the start, and I guess they won't forget it!
Well, I think it's time all their sort found out that three generations
can mean just as much out here as anywhere else. That's the way I feel
about it, and let me tell you I feel it pretty deeply!"

"But what are you going to do, George?" she cried.

George's earnestness surpassed hers; he had become flushed and his
breathing was emotional. As he confessed, with simple genuineness, he
did feel what he was saying "pretty deeply"; and in truth his state
approached the tremulous. "I expect to live an honourable life," he
said. "I expect to contribute my share to charities, and to take part
in--in movements."

"What kind?"

"Whatever appeals to me," he said.

Lucy looked at him with grieved wonder. "But you really don't mean to
have any regular business or profession at all?"

"I certainly do not!" George returned promptly and emphatically.

"I was afraid so," she said in a low voice.

George continued to breathe deeply throughout another protracted
interval of silence. Then he said, "I should like to revert to the
questions I was asking you, if you don't mind."

"No, George. I think we'd better--"

"Your father is a business man--"

"He's a mechanical genius," Lucy interrupted quickly. "Of course he's
both. And he was a lawyer once--he's done all sorts of things."

"Very well. I merely wished to ask if it's his influence that makes you
think I ought to 'do' something?"

Lucy frowned slightly. "Why, I suppose almost everything I think or say
must be owing to his influence in one way or another. We haven't had
anybody but each other for so many years, and we always think about
alike, so of course--"

"I see!" And George's brow darkened with resentment. "So that's it, is
it? It's your father's idea that I ought to go into business and that
you oughtn't to be engaged to me until I do."

Lucy gave a start, her denial was so quick. "No! I've never once spoken
to him about it. Never!"

George looked at her keenly, and he jumped to a conclusion not far from
the truth. "But you know without talking to him that it's the way he
does feel about it? I see."

She nodded gravely. "Yes."

George's brow gre