It will be amusing. I reaUy made him do it. And the
Leighs. Mrs. Leigh told me of your talk. Do you
like her?"

"Yes and no. May I speak? She did seem to me
hard and — "

"Oh, only in talk. If one has any real trouble, she
is angelic. She likes you. But, then, she Ukes suc-
cess, as I do. Yes, strange as it may seem to you, she
would make an admirable mother-in-law."

"I should be pitiful of the man," said I.
"No. If he were morally weak she would rule him
for his good, because in all worldly ways, and in busi-
ness matters, no one is more shrewd ; and if he were
a man of eminence and force, she would give up once
for all. She has no real fight in her, none at all."

I smiled.
"Oh, you may laugh."

"I only smiled."

"Yes, I know." And she set her large eyes on me
watchfully. "Now, suppose by any chance our friend
St. Clair were to lose his heart to my friend Miss
Alice?"

"Impossible."

"Not at all. He comes here every day to talk about
her. Now, with Alice's good sense and efficiency, and
her mother's — "
18



264 CHARACTERISTICS.
"Pardon me, what?"

"Oh, her mother's desire to settle Alice, and then
Alice's fortune. Now do you not see how very wise
a thing it would be ?"

"Are you jesting?" I said, seriously.
