She had learned in some indirect way that a large sum of money would have gone with her hand to Arthur Fletcher, could she have brought herself to marry that suitor favoured by her family.

And now, having learned, as she had learned, that money was of vital importance to her husband, she was dismayed at what seemed to her to be parental parsimony.

But he was overjoyed,--so much so that for a while he lost that restraint over himself which was habitual to him.

He ate his breakfast in a state of exultation, and talked,--not alluding specially to this L3000,--as though he had the command of almost unlimited means.

He ordered a carriage and drove her out, and bought presents for her,--things as to which they had both before decided that they should not be bought because of the expense.