!" said Kitty, frowning.

Ashe went into a fit of laughter.

"That's my extravagance, isn't it? I assure you I go on the most
approved principles. I divide our available money among the greatest
number of hungry claimants it will stretch to. But, after all, it goes a
beggarly short way."

"I know mother will think my diamond crescent a horrible extravagance,"
said Kitty, pouting. "But you are the only son, William, and we must
behave like other people."

"Dear, don't trouble your little head," he said; "I'll manage it,
somehow."

Indeed, he knew very well that he could never bring his own indolent and
easy-going temper in such matters to face any real struggle with Kitty
over money. He must go to his mother, who now--his father being a
hopeless invalid--managed the estates with his own and the agent's help.
It was, of course, right that she should preach to Kitty a little; but
she would be sensible and help them out. After all, there was plenty of
money. Why shouldn't Kitty spend it?

Any one who knew him well might have observed a curious contrast between
his private laxity in these matters and the strictness of his public
practice. He was scruple and delicacy itself in all financial matters
that touched his public life--directorships, investments, and the like,
no less than in all that concerned interest and patronage. He would have
been a bold man who had dared to propose to William Ashe any expedient
whatever by which his public place might serve his private gain. His
proud and fastidious integrity, indeed, was one of the sources of his
growing power. But as to private debts--and the tradesmen to whom they
were owed--his standards were still essentially those of the Whigs from
whom he descended, of Fox, the all-indebted, or of Melbourne, who has
left an amusing disquisition on the art of dividing a few loaves and
fishes in the shape of bank-notes among a multitude of creditors.

Not that affairs were as yet very bad. Far from it. But there was little
to spare for Madame d'Estrees, who ought, indeed, to want nothing; and
Ashe was vaguely meditating his reply to that lady when a face in a
carriage near them, which was trying to enter the line, caught his
attention.

"Mary!" he said, "a la Sir Joshua--and mother. They don't see us. Query,
will Cliffe take the leap to-night? Mother reports a decided increase of
ardor on his part. Sorry you don't approve of it, darling!"

"It's just like lighting a lamp to put