pheasant preserve. You have friends to stay with you for the shooting,
you get talked about in the clubs, people ask why you aren't married--
the place where the wife ought to be stares you in the face: a man of
money, of real money, must get married. The friends who come and stay
with you suggest a little dance, you think it would be very pleasant;
but you know no one in the neighbourhood, the county people won't
visit you, so the thing comes about, and you are head over heels in
settlements before you know where you are."

"Do you find the county people very standoffish over Preston Park
way?"

"I am not in a position to judge; they could not very well call on me
situated as I am, a young--well, I will say, a marriageable--man,
known to be wealthy; but I have no doubt when I am married they will
call on us."

"Twirl them round my little finger, stuck-up lot; I should like to
know what they have to be proud of, half of them are broken--their
land is worthless. Give me good sound investments, five or six per
cent. For some money I am getting seven; the waterworks pays
fourteen."

The conversation suddenly dropped, they looked at each other blankly;
they felt they had talked a good deal, but without approaching any
nearer the subject they had met to speak on.

"Our intention was," said Berkins, in his most solemn and professional
manner, "assuming that Miss Brookes is not averse from my suit, to
discuss the business side, for there is a business side to all