that. It's not that I care
for money to keep as money, but I do care so much for what it will buy!'

'Really I think most of us do,' returned R. W.

'But not to the dreadful extent that I do, Pa. O-o!' cried Bella,
screwing the exclamation out of herself with a twist of her dimpled
chin. 'I AM so mercenary!'

With a wistful glance R. W. said, in default of having anything better
to say: 'About when did you begin to feel it coming on, my dear?'

'That's it, Pa. That's the terrible part of it. When I was at home, and
only knew what it was to be poor, I grumbled but didn't so much mind.
When I was at home expecting to be rich, I thought vaguely of all the
great things I would do. But when I had been disappointed of my splendid
fortune, and came to see it from day to day in other hands, and to have
before my eyes what it could really do, then I became the mercenary
little wretch I am.'

'It's your fancy, my dear.'

'I can assure you it's nothing of the sort, Pa!' said Bella, nodding at
him, with her very pretty eyebrows raised as high as they would go, and
looking comically frightened. 'It's a fact. I am always avariciously
scheming.'

'Lor! But how?'

'I'll tell you, Pa. I don't mind telling YOU, because we have always
been favourites of each other's, and because you are not like a Pa, but
more like a sort of a younger brother with a dear venerable chubbiness
on him. And besides,' added Bella, laughing as she pointed a rallying
finger at his face, 'because I have got you in my power. This is a
secret expedition. If ever you tell of me, I'll tell of you. I'll tell
Ma that you dined at Greenwich.'

'Well; seriously, my dear,' observed R. W., with some trepidation of
manner, 'it might be as well not to mention it.'

'Aha!' laughed Bella. 'I knew you wouldn't like it, sir! So you keep my
confidence, and I'll keep yours. But betray the lovely woman, and you
shall find her a serpent. Now, you may give me a kiss, Pa, and I should
like to give your hair a turn, because it has been dreadfully neglected
in my absence.'

R. W. submitted his head to the operator, and the operator went on
talking; at the same time putting separate locks of his hair through
a curious process of being smartly rolled over her two revolving
forefingers, which were then suddenly pulled out of it in opposite
lateral directions. On each of these occasions the patient winced and
winked.

'I have made up my mind that I must have money, Pa. I fee