'It's a castle, I know.'

'Yes;--Castle Reekie; ever so many hundred years old.'

'I hate old places. I should like a new house, and a new dress, and a
new horse every week,--and a new lover. Your father lives at the
castle. I don't suppose we are to go and live there too.'

'We shall be there sometimes. When shall it be?'

'The year after next.'

'Nonsense, Marie.'

'To-morrow.'

'You wouldn't be ready.'

'You may manage it all just as you like with papa. Oh, yes,--kiss me;
of course you may. If I'm to belong to you what does it matter? No;--I
won't say that I love you. But if ever I do say it, you may be sure it
will be true. That's more than you can say of yourself,--John.'

So the interview was over and Nidderdale walked back to the house
thinking of his lady love, as far as he was able to bring his mind to
any operation of thinking. He was fully determined to go on with it.
As far as the girl herself was concerned, she had, in these latter
days, become much more attractive to him than when he had first known
her. She certainly was not a fool. And, though he could not tell
himself that she was altogether like a lady, still she had a manner of
her own which made him think that she would be able to live with
ladies. And he did think that, in spite of all she said to the
contrary, she was becoming fond of him,--as he certainly had become
fond of her. 'Have you been up with the ladies?' Melmotte asked him.

'Oh yes.'

'And what does Marie say?'

'That you must fix the day.'

'We'll have it very soon then;--some time next month. You'll want to get
away in August. And to tell the truth so shall I. I never was worked
so hard in my life as I've been this summer. The election and that
horrid dinner had something to do with it. And I don't mind telling
you that I've had a fearful weight on my mind in reference to money. I
never had to find so many large sums in so short a time! And I'm not
quite through it yet.'

'I wonder why you gave the dinner then.'

'My dear boy,'--it was very pleasant to him to call the son of a
marquis his dear boy,--'as regards expenditure that was a flea-bite.
Nothing that I could spend myself would have the slightest effect
upon my condition one way or the other.'

'I wish it could be the same way with me,' said Nidderdale.

'If you chose to go into business with me instead of taking Marie's
money out, it very soon would be so with you. But the burden is very
great. I never