’Oh，dear，yes，’Ireplied；’itisofverygreatconsequence；andIunderstandthewholeofit。YouwanttogivethatstupidAnnie，whohaslostyouahundredthousandpounds，andwhoisgoingtobemarriedbeforeus，dear——Godonlycantellwhy，beingmyyoungersister——youwanttogiveheraweddingpresent。
Andyoushalldoit，darling；becauseitissogoodofyou。Don’tyouknowyourtitle，love？Howhumbleyouarewithushumblefolk。YouareLadyLornasomething，sofarasIcanmakeoutyet：andyououghtnoteventospeaktous。Youwillgoawayanddisdainus。’
’Ifyouplease，talknotlikethat，John。Iwillhavenothingtodowithit，ifitcomesbetweenyouandme，John。’
’Youcannothelpyourself，’saidI。Andthenshevowedthatshecouldandwould。Andrankandbirthwerebanishedfrombetweenourlipsinnotime。
’WhatcanIgethergoodenough？IamsureIdonotknow，’sheasked：’shehasbeensokindandgoodtome，andsheissuchadarling。HowIshallmissher，tobesure!Bythebye，youseemtothink，John，thatIshallberichsomeday。’