is a great trial to me. Poor boy, he is most anxious to do something,
but things don't go right with him; he thought he was going to do a
good thing in a Bond Street shop that was converted into a company,
but he lost two thousand pounds."

"I thought he was in the distillery with you."

"He was for a while, but he irritated me; he is so confoundedly
methodical, everything must go into his diary, he spends half the day
filling it up. Besides after you have conducted a business so many
years you don't want a partner; you have your own way of doing things,
and don't want to be interfered with. He draws a certain income, but
he has nothing now to do with the business. We were talking of
settlements."

"You do not act as I should regarding the villa residences. I would
put them down. I would not have it; but, as you say, we were talking
of settlements. I think I said we stood as man to man. In round
numbers your fortune equals mine, mine equals yours--very well, let us
act equally. I will settle five hundred a year on Miss Brookes, do you
likewise; what do you say to that?"

"Pooh, pooh! I couldn't think of such a thing. Five hundred a year!"
said Mr. Brookes, and throwing his cigar into the fireplace, he walked
up the room indignantly. "I was wrong to consent to discuss the
matter; to say the least, it is premature; I never heard of such a
thing. Five hundred a year! This is worse than the Southdown Road,
many degrees worse."

"Sir, such insinuations are most uncalled for; I must beg of you to