en resumed: "He soon found me out
and was sick of me in three weeks. He disliked dances, theatres, and
smart society, and buried me alive in the country. We had nothing in
common; he was just a bookworm, with a sarcastic tongue, who left me a
beggar! Now I am free, I am going to be a rich woman, marry a man who
understands me--and lead a new life."

"I see you are easily satisfied," remarked her son.

"I am; and although Mr. Levison is a Jew tradesman, as you have
remarked in your nasty sneering way, he has been generous enough to
offer you an opening as his assistant. He will take you into the shop
and pay you two hundred a year."

"No, thank you," replied Douglas stiffly; "I know nothing about old
furniture."

"Only old family, I suppose! Well, you might do worse; and when you
marry Cossie, as is probable, I will make you a small allowance."

(Shafto had relinquished his income of a hundred and fifty a year, and
made it over to his mother legally, immediately he had come of age.)

"I haven't the smallest idea of marrying Cossie, or anyone else," he
answered, with white-faced decision.

"Well, she, and indeed they _all_, expect it."

"I've never given them any reason to do so."

"Yes, you have," she contradicted sharply; "you go there, sit by her,
and take her into the garden."

"There is nothing in that," he rejoined, too chivalrous to add that it
was his cousin who sat by, escorted him, and clung to him like the
traditional limpet.

"She is five years older than you, I know, but very sweet-tempered, and
not a bad manager--she runs 'Monte Carlo'!"

"Cossie is absolutely nothing to me beyond a cousin; nor have I ever
given her reason to think otherwise--or ever shall."

"Oh, you are wonderfully bold and courageous here with _me_; I should
like to hear you telling them this at 'Monte Carlo'! I know my sister
has set her heart on the match; she has been talking to me about the
trousseau, and intends to give you table linen, and a silver
tea-pot--she has two."

"Even the silver tea-pot would not bribe me!" declared Douglas with an
angry laugh.

"Well, I can assure you that it's an understood thing," persisted his
parent, with spiteful emphasis.

"How can it be understood, when I have never asked the girl to marry me
and never shall? Cossie is straight enough and can tell you that
herself."

"Oh, she has told me lots of things!" said her aunt mysteriously.
"Well, to turn to another subject, am