e four steps at starting. Double your present income--the most rigid
economy cannot do it in England on less. You said just now that you
expected greatly to increase the value of your business. To work--and
increase it! I am a good devil after all! On the day when you satisfy
me, by plain proofs, that your income has risen to three thousand a year,
ask me for my niece's hand, and it is yours."

"May I inquire if you have mentioned this arrangement to Miss
Obenreizer?"

"Certainly. She has a last little morsel of regard still left for me,
Mr. Vendale, which is not yours yet; and she accepts my terms. In other
words, she submits to be guided by her guardian's regard for her welfare,
and by her guardian's superior knowledge of the world." He threw himself
back in his chair, in firm reliance on his position, and in full
possession of his excellent temper.

Any open assertion of his own interests, in the situation in which
Vendale was now placed, seemed to be (for the present at least) hopeless.
He found himself literally left with no ground to stand on. Whether
Obenreizer's objections were the genuine product of Obenreizer's own view
of the case, or whether he was simply delaying the marriage in the hope
of ultimately breaking it off altogether--in either of these events, any
present resistance on Vendale's part would be equally useless. There was
no help for it but to yield, making the best terms that he could on his
own side.

"I protest against the conditions you impose on me," he began.

"Naturally," said Obenreizer; "I dare say I should protest, myself, in
your place."

"Say, however," pursued Vendale, "that I accept your terms. In that
case, I must be permitted to make two stipulations on my part. In the
first place, I shall expect to be allowed to see your niece."

"Aha! to see my niece? and to make her in as great a hurry to be married
as you are yourself? Suppose I say, No? you would see her perhaps
without my permission?"

"Decidedly!"

"How delightfully frank! How exquisitely English! You shall see her,
Mr. Vendale, on certain days, which we will appoint together. What
next?"

"Your objection to my income," proceeded Vendale, "has taken me
completely by surprise. I wish to be assured against any repetition of
that surprise. Your present views of my qualification for marriage
require me to have an income of three thousand a year. Can I be certain,
in the future, as your experience o