The young man gave a clear, fresh laugh. "You, at least, are clever
enough, dearest sister," he said.

"I was not so when I proposed this."

"Was it you who proposed it?" asked her brother.

She turned her head and gave him a little stare. "Do you desire the
credit of it?"

"If you like, I will take the blame," he said, looking up with a smile.

"Yes," she rejoined in a moment, "you make no difference in these
things. You have no sense of property."

The young man gave his joyous laugh again. "If that means I have no
property, you are right!"

"Don't joke about your poverty," said his sister. "That is quite as
vulgar as to boast about it."

"My poverty! I have just finished a drawing that will bring me fifty
francs!"

"Voyons," said the lady, putting out her hand.

He added a touch or two, and then gave her his sketch. She looked at it,
but she went on with her idea of a moment before. "If a woman were to
ask you to marry her you would say, 'Certainly, my dear, with pleasure!'