ects had notably expanded of
late, and one of the results was that she did not live so harmoniously
with her sister as for the first few months of their London career.

'I have been thinking a good deal about that,' replied Jasper to the
younger girl's question. He stood with his back to the fire and smoked a
cigarette. 'I thought at first of taking a flat; but then a flat of the
kind I should want would be twice the rent of a large house. If we have
a house with plenty of room in it you might come and live with us after
a time. At first I must find you decent lodgings in our neighbourhood.'

'You show a good deal of generosity, Jasper,' said Maud, 'but pray
remember that Marian isn't bringing you five thousand a year.'

'I regret to say that she isn't. What she brings me is five hundred a
year for ten years--that's how I look at it. My own income will make
it something between six or seven hundred at first, and before long
probably more like a thousand. I am quite cool and collected. I
understand exactly where I am, and where I am likely to be ten years
hence. Marian's money is to be spent in obtaining a position for myself.
At present I am spoken of as a "smart young fellow," and that kind of
thing; but no one would offer me an editorship, or any other serious
help. Wait till I show that I have helped myself and hands will be
stretched to me from every side. 'Tis the way of the world. I shall
belong to a club; I shall give nice, quiet little dinners to selected
people; I shall let it be understood by all and sundry that I have a
social position. Thenceforth I am quite a different man, a man to be
taken into account. And what will you bet me that I don't stand in the
foremost rank of literary reputabilities ten years hence?'

'I doubt whether six or seven hundred a year will be enough for this.'

'If not, I am prepared to spend a thousand. Bless my soul! As if two or
three years wouldn't suffice to draw out the mean qualities in the kind
of people I am thinking of! I say ten, to leave myself a great margin.'

'Marian approves this?'

'I haven't distinctly spoken of it. But she approves whatever I think
good.'

The girls laughed at his way of pronouncing this.

'And let us just suppose that you are so unfortunate as to fail?'

'There's no supposing it, unless, of course, I lose my health. I am not
presuming on any wonderful development of powers. Such as I am now, I
need only to be put on the little pedestal o