they can make it all right. It's partly ignorance and partly
vanity. But they are all the same, and their ways in the matter of
marriage are not to be made out."

"You have a great deal of experience."

"Experience--oh, don't speak of it!" said the old gentleman. "A man has
a certain idea of the value of money, however great a fool he may be,
but the women----"

"And yet they are said to stick to money, and to be respectful of it
beyond anything but a miser. I have myself remarked----"

"In small matters," said Mr. Lynch, "in detail--sixpences to railway
porters and that sort of thing--so people say at least. But a sum of
money on paper has no effect on a woman, she will sign it away with a
wave of her hand. It doesn't touch their imagination. Five pounds in her
pocket is far more than five thousand on paper, to Elinor, for instance.
I wish," cried the old gentleman, with a little spitefulness, "that this
Married Women's Property Bill would push on and get itself made law. It
would save us a great deal of trouble, and perhaps convince the world at
the last how little able they are to be trusted with property. A nice
mess they will make of it, and plenty of employment for young
solicitors," he said, rubbing his hands.

For this was before that important bill was passed, which has not had
(like so many other bills) the disastrous consequences which Mr. Lynch
foresaw.

They were met at the station by the pony carriage, and at the door by
Elinor herself, who came flying out to meet them. She seized Mr. Lynch
by both arms, for he was a little old man, and she was bigger than he
was.

"Now you will remember what I said," she cried in his ear, yet not so
low but that John heard it too.

"You are a little witch; you mustn't insist upon anything so foolish.
Leave all that to me, my dear," said Mr. Lynch. "What do you know about
business? You must leave it to me and the other gentleman, who I suppose
is here, or coming."

"He is here, but I don't care for him. I care only for you. There are
such advantages: and I do know a great deal about business; and," she
said, with her mouth close to the old lawyer's ear, "it will please Phil
so much if I show my confidence in him, and in the things with which he
has to do."

"It will not please him so much if the thing bursts, and you are left
without a penny, my dear."

Elinor laughed. "I don't suppose he will mind a bit: he cares nothing
for money. But I do," she said. "You