The emphasis he laid on the eulogy was evidently intended for bitter
sarcasm. Anger gave her unwonted glibness.

"I'll ask you to be good enough to pay our bill, then. If you're making
off because you can't pay your other debts it's no affair of mine."

He bowed mockingly. "You are real kind. Can't think how much obliged I
am for your tactful reminder; but it don't happen to be my financial
affairs that I came to introdooce to your notice." He stammered a
moment, as if carried rather out of his bearings by his own loquacity.
"It's--it's rather _your_ finances that I wish to enlarge upon."

She opposed herself to him in cold silence that would not betray a gleam
of curiosity.

"You're a mighty fine young lady, upon my word!" he observed, running
his eye visibly over her apparel. "Able to work for yourself, and buy
silk skirts, and owning half a bit of ground that people are beginning
to think will be worth something considerable when they get to mining
there. Oh, you're a fine one--what with your qualities and your
fortune!"

A sudden unbecoming colour came with tell-tale vehemence over her cheek
and brow.

"Your qualities of mind, as I've remarked, are fine; but the qualities
of your heart, my dear, are finer still. I've been making love to you,
with the choicest store of loving arts, for eight long months; and the
first blush I've been enabled to raise on your lovely countenance is