'It wouldn't be possible for some time,' he answered in a thick
voice. 'I have nothing but my wretched salary. But every one hopes.'

'What reasonable hope have you?' Monica urged, forcing herself to be
cruel, because it seemed the only way of putting an end to this
situation.

'Oh, there are so many opportunities in our business. I could point
to half a dozen successful men who were at the counter a few years
ago. I may become a walker, and get at least three pounds a week. If
I were lucky enough to be taken on as a buyer, I might make--why,
some make many hundreds a year--many hundreds.'

'And you would ask me to wait on and on for one of these wonderful
chances?'

'If I could move your feelings, Miss Madden,' he began, with a
certain dolorous dignity; but there his voice broke. He saw too
plainly that the girl had neither faith in him nor liking for him.

'Mr. Bullivant, I think you ought to wait until you really have
prospects. If you were encouraged by some person, it would be a
different thing. And indeed you haven't to look far. But where there
has never been the slightest encouragement, you are really wrong to
act in this way. A long engagement, where everything remains
doubtful for years, is so wretched that--oh, if I were a man, I
would _never_ try to persuade a girl into that! I think it wrong and
cruel.'