re nothing she chooses will be considered
extravagant in her. But he hates to be suspected of any mercenary
considerations. He always had enough for both.

He lays the matter before Mr. Wilmarth, being quite convinced now that
Eugene will never make a business man. He will not hurry matters, but
when the legacies have been paid he shall close his connection with the
factory.

"But Mrs. Grandon still has a life interest," suggests Jasper Wilmarth.

"That can be hypothecated, or the will gives her the privilege of
taking any certain sum that can be agreed upon. It would not impoverish
me to pay it myself," he says, with a fine contempt.

"But your brother must agree to all this; it is _his_ business, not
yours."

"He will agree to it," answers Floyd, in a tone not to be mistaken,
since it implies the young man would dispose of his birthright any day
for a mess of pottage.

"Still, I should suppose there would be a feeling of honor," says
Wilmarth, with his suave sneer.

"I think my honor has never been questioned, Mr. Wilmarth, nor my
integrity."

Floyd Grandon rises and stands straight before him, his face slightly
flushed.

"You quite mistake me," he replies, with a covert but insolent evasion;
"or I had better have said pride, business pride, I have so much of
that," and the lips show a sort of sardonic smile. "That is what your
brother lacks; I suppose we have no reasonable right to look for it in
you, a literary man."

Jasper Wilmarth always exasperates him, but he says now, with dignified
gravity,--

"I give you this notice, so that you may prepare for the event. There
will be no undue haste, but I should like to have the business settled
in from one to two years hence."

So that is his warning! If he _could_ have married St. Vincent's
daughter! Jasper Wilmarth does not care such a great deal for riches,
but he would like to put down this aristocratic fellow whom the world
is beginning to worship, who has only to hold out his hand and the St.
Vincent fortune will drop into it. When the time of settlement actually
comes the partnership will be dissolved; he must either sell or buy;
buy he cannot. Floyd Grandon pushes him out. Is there no way to give
the man a sword-keen thrust?

He broods over it for days, and at last it comes to him like an
inspiration. Marcia has been making calls in Westbrook and stops for
Floyd according to agreement. She sits there in the pony carriage in
seal sacque and cap,