ut titles; what I look to is
intellectual distinction.'

'Combined with financial success.'

'Why, that is what distinction means.' He looked round the room with a
smile. 'You are not uncomfortable here, old girl. I wish mother could
have lived till now.'

'I wish it very, very often,' Dora replied in a moved voice.

'We haven't done badly, drawbacks considered. Now, you may speak of
money as scornfully as you like; but suppose you had married a man who
could only keep you in lodgings! How would life look to you?'

'Who ever disputed the value of money? But there are things one mustn't
sacrifice to gain it.'

'I suppose so. Well, I have some news for you, Dora. I am thinking of
following your example.'

Dora's face changed to grave anticipation.

'And who is it?'

'Amy Reardon.'

His sister turned away, with a look of intense annoyance.

'You see, I am disinterested myself,' he went on. 'I might find a wife
who had wealth and social standing. But I choose Amy deliberately.'

'An abominable choice!'

'No; an excellent choice. I have never yet met a woman so well fitted
to aid me in my career. She has a trifling sum of money, which will be
useful for the next year or two--'

'What has she done with the rest of it, then?'

'Oh, the ten thousand is intact, but it can't be seriously spoken of. It
will keep up appearances till I get my editorship and so on. We shall be
married early in August, I think. I want to ask you if you will go and
see her.'

'On no account! I couldn't be civil to her.'

Jasper's brows blackened.

'This is idiotic prejudice, Dora. I think I have some claim upon you; I
have shown some kindness--'

'You have, and I am not ungrateful. But I dislike Mrs Reardon, and I
couldn't bring myself to be friendly with her.'

'You don't know her.'

'Too well. You yourself have taught me to know her. Don't compel me to
say what I think of her.'

'She is beautiful, and high-minded, and warm-hearted. I don't know
a womanly quality that she doesn't possess. You will offend me most
seriously if you speak a word against her.'

'Then I will be silent. But you must never ask me to meet her.'

'Never?'

'Never!'

'Then we shall quarrel. I haven't deserved this, Dora. If you refuse
to meet my wife on terms of decent friendliness, there's no more
intercourse between your house and mine. You have to choose. Persist in
this fatuous obstinacy, and I have done with you!'

'So be it!'

'That