THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 185 



"So was I. May I walk with you?" and it was easy to 

 guess what the answer would be. 



Reader, I will spare you the ensuing scene. You and I 

 have both been through it — 'more than once,' did you say? 

 Ah, very likely. And I've always heard that there's a painful 

 want of variety about such performances. Haven't you? 



" I'm awfully poor," sighed Ronald, " I don't feel at all cer- 

 tain about your father ever giving his consent, but I must try." 



"But we — that is, my father is rich, so that won't matter, 

 will it?" 



"Yes, dear. That's just what will matter, worse luck. 

 You see, in this world, a man who is rich doesn't think much 

 of one who isn't. If the daughter of Dives marries, it isn't 

 necessary that the man she weds should possess any qualifica- 

 tion except that he should be rich also. If a poor man falls 

 in love with her, he must necessarily be a scoundrel and 

 an adventurer, according to the world's estimate. It's an 

 awful and an unjust doctrine ; nevertheless, it's the one 

 favoured by all civilized nations." 



" Surely, if one or other has money " began Penelope, 



her pretty eyes half filling with tears. 



" No, dearest one, that's just it. If both were poor — hadn't, 

 in fact, anything to live on, people would say : 'Oh, well, 

 he (or she) couldn't hope to do any better ; ' and again, if both 

 were rich, it would be all right. However, I'm not absolutely 

 penniless, and I've always got my profession as a barrister to 

 fall back upon. Unfortunately, it's a precious poor fall-back. 

 I practised for five years and never made a hundred a year at 

 it. All the briefs and all the prizes at the Bar fall to those 

 who have interest ; and I have none. But at all events, I'll 



