"He's not half a bad fellow," said Graeme heartily.
And perhaps, if it had been put to Miss Penny, she would have improved even upon that.
"I hope you're not very set on being a rich woman, Meg," said Graeme, when they were alone together.
"Oh, but I am," she said, with a smile which all the riches in the world could not have bought from her, or brought to her.
"Yes, I know,"--and he gathered the smile with a kiss. "But in coarse material wealth, I mean."
"I'm just as set on it as you are. I want just as much as will make you happy. You mean Mr. Pixley has made away with it all?"
"I'm very much afraid so, but I guess we can get along all right without it."
"Of course we can--splendidly. I'm a famous housekeeper and you'll be a famous author. There couldn't be a better team. It will bring out the very best that's in us."
"We can never come to actual want anyway, for my little bit--which, by the way, Lady Elspeth once took the trouble to impress upon me was just about enough to pay Mr. Pixley's servants' wages--is in Consols, and they're not likely to crack up. And my last book brought me about fifty pounds--"
"It ought to have brought you five thousand. I'm sure it was good enough."
"Of course it was, but it takes time to work up to the five thousand point. Some get there, I suppose. But I should imagine more starve off at the fifty line."
"We could live like princes on a couple of hundred a year in Sark here."
"It would pall on you in time, I'm afraid."
"You've been here twice as long as I have. Has it begun to pall on you yet?"
"I don't think it would ever pall on me, if I lived here for a century. But then I've got my work, you see."
"And I've got you, my dear. When you and Sark begin to pall I'll promise to let you know. It's heavenly."
"Oh, I don't claim all that, you know. Don't expect _too_ much--"
"Will Charles be involved at all, do you think, Jock?"
"I don't think so. They had not much to do with one another in business matters."
"I'm glad of that. Do you know"--with an introspective look in her eyes--"I've an idea--"
"That would be capital. She'd make him an excellent wife."
"I'm sure she would. She's just what he needs. She's as good as gold, and she has more genuine common-sense than anyone I know."