A man in his position, if he marry at all, must take either a work-girl or an heiress, and in many ways the work-girl is preferable.' 'How can you say that ?' asked Dora.

'You never cease talking about the advantages of money.' 'Oh, I don't mean that for ME the work-girl would be preferable; by no means; but for a man like Reardon.

He is absurd enough to be conscientious, likes to be called an "artist," and so on.

He might possibly earn a hundred and fifty a year if his mind were at rest, and that would be enough if he had married a decent little dressmaker.

He wouldn't desire superfluities, and the quality of his work would be its own reward.