lso, I am Sylvia's father."

I nodded, with a new interest.

"Well, now, Mordan, let me say first that I know my girls pretty well,
and I am quite satisfied that Sylvia is not fitted to be a poor man's
wife. You would probably think her far better fitted for that part than
her sister, because Marjory is a lot more gay and frivolous. Well, you
would be wrong. They are neither of them really qualified for the post,
but Sylvia is far less so than Marjory. In point of fact she would be
wretched in it, she would fail in it; and--I may say that the fact would
not make matters easier for her husband."

There did not seem to me any need for a reply, but I nodded again; and
Mr. Wheeler resumed, after a long draw at his cigar. He smoked a very
excellent, rather rich Havana.

"Yes, girls are different now from the girls I sweethearted with; and
girls like mine must have money. I dare say you think Sylvia dresses
very prettily, in a simple way. My dear fellow, her laundry bill alone
would bankrupt a newspaper reporter."

I may have indicated before, that Mr. Wheeler was not a person of any
particular refinement. He had made the money which provided a tolerably
costly upbringing for his children, but his own education I gathered had
been of a much more exiguous character. There was, as I know, a good
deal of truth in what he said of the girl of the period.

"Well, now, I put it to you, Mordan, whether, admitting that what I say
about Sylvia is true--and you may take it from me that it is
true--whether it would be very kind or fair on my part to allow you to
go on paying attention to her at the rate of--say to-day's. Do you think
it would be wise or kind of me to allow it? I say nothing about your
side in the matter, because--well, because I still have some
recollection of how a young fellow feels in such a case. But would it be
wise of me to allow it?"

He was a shrewd man, this father of Sylvia, and of my old friend; and I
have no doubt that the tactics I found so disarming had served him well
before that day in the City. At the same time, instinct seemed to forbid
complete surrender on my side.

"It is just consideration of the present difficulties of my position
which has made me careful to avoid seeking to commit Sylvia in any way,"
I said.

It was probably an unwise remark. At all events, it struck the note of
opposition, of contumacy, which it seemed my host had been anticipating;
and he met it with a new inflection