one's reputation. But that
is a question not likely to interest you. Let us talk of something else.
Do you know why I wanted you to come and see me to-day?"

"I am sure I don't."

"I mean to leave you all my money."

He stared. She did not appear to be joking. Was it possible that her
rage against her nephew had carried her to this extreme resolve?

"Oh!" he stammered, "but I won't have it, Mrs. Lavender."

"But you'll have to have it," said the little old woman severely. "You
are a poor man. You could make good use of my money--better than a
charity board that would starve the poor with a penny out of each
shilling, and spend the other elevenpence in treating their friends to
flower-shows and dinners. Do you think I mean to leave my money to such
people? You shall have it. I think you would look very well driving a
mail-phaeton in the Park; and I suppose you would give up your pipes and
your philosophy and your bachelor walks into the country. You would
marry, of course: every man is bound to make a fool of himself that way
as soon as he gets enough money to do it with. But perhaps you might
come across a clever and sensible woman, who would look after you and
give you your own way while having her own. Only don't marry a fool.
Whatever you do, don't marry a fool, or all your philosophers won't make
the house bearable to you."

"I am not likely to marry anybody, Mrs. Lavender," said Ingram
carelessly.

"Is there no woman you know whom you would care to marry?"

"Oh," he said, "there is one woman--yes--who seems to me about
everything that a man could wish, but the notion of my marrying her is
absurd. If I had known in time, don't you see, that I should ever think
of such a thing, I should have begun years ago to dye my hair. I can't
begin now. Gray hair inspires reverence, I believe, but it is a bad
thing to go courting with."

"You must not talk foolishly," said the little old lady with a frown.
"Do you think a sensible woman wants to marry a boy who will torment her
with his folly and his empty head and his running after a dozen
different women? Gray hair! If you think gray hair is a bad thing to go
courting with, I will give you something better. I will put something in
your hand that will make the young lady forget your gray hair. Oh, of
course you will say that she cannot be tempted, that she despises money.
If so, so much the better; but I have known more women than you, and my
hair is grayer than your