"Oh no, no. But they will help it along very nicely."
"When I get my million, which, mark you, Aunt, is more than any girl of my age has ever done, why, then, I shall start to make my second. It's a most fascinating amusement."
"But it doesn't make you happy. You are no better for it. You can't spend it."
"My dear Aunt, where have your eyes been? Haven't you seen my clothes since I came back from the Coast? Why, I never knew what it was to dress before. I'm seriously thinking I shall have to start a maid to look after me."
"My dear, you've a knack of carrying clothes."
"That I learned from you, you extremely smart person."
"Well, you got the knack somewhere, and you always were nicely turned out. Now I know your wardrobe as well as you do yourself, and, let me see"--Mrs. Craven took a pencil from her chatelaine, and made calculations on the edge of a newspaper--"Since you came back to England you've not spent, at a liberal estimate, above two hundred and twenty-seven pounds ten on your own adornment."
Kate laughed. "I give in to you, Aunt. I quite believe you know my wardrobe better than I do myself. Well, perhaps I shall buy pearls, then. I never had one, but I believe I'm prepared to adore a necklace of big, smooth, delicately graded pearls, with shimmery skins, and a fat, pear-shaped black pearl drop to dangle below it. Yes, that's the real reason I'm making money, Aunt--to buy and wear great ropes of pearls. Or, who knows, I may have a fancy for a peer. Now, with a million, I'm told one can buy for marrying purposes a really fine specimen of peer."
"There are moments," said Mrs. Craven sharply, "when I'm very sorry you're grown up."
Kate went across and sat on the arm of the old lady's chair. "Do you want to smack me and put me to bed?"
"I've done it many a time when you've been in this mood."
"Can you see the black dog on my shoulder?"
"Larger than ever. Kate, you should try and control yourself."
"Oh, be just, Aunt. I didn't lie down on the floor and kick or do anything like that."
"No, thanks to me you can keep your temper under more decent control now. Now, don't you kiss me, and think I'm a silly old woman, and try to get round me that way--I know exactly how you're feeling. Oh, you'd lead any man a dance who married you."