Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/109

 "But how are you to live?"

"I didn't say I was going to live. I might possibly die artistically of starvation."

"Why don't you go to the colonies?" demanded Lady Drewitt.

"I have never been enthusiastic about the colonies," he replied. "I dislike Australian wines, Canadian cheese, New Zealand mutton, and in France it was a South African who saved my life. Then to add insult to injury the authorities gave him the D.C.M. No, Aunt Caroline, the colonies no more exist for me than they do for the Kaiser."

"Then what are you going to do?" persisted Lady Drewitt.

"Frankly I haven't the foggiest idea," he admitted, as Payne entered, followed by Rogers with the tea-tray, which he proceeded to place beside Lady Drewitt. For a few moments there was silence, during which Payne and Rogers withdrew. "No sugar, please," said Beresford, as Lady Drewitt poised a lump over his cup.

"If you would go to the colonies, Richard, I might be prepared to"

"Give me your blessing, exactly, Aunt Caroline," interrupted Beresford suavely. "I have, however, made it a rule ever since we have been acquainted to value your good opinion more than your largesse."

"What do you mean?"

"You are too shrewd not to appreciate that wealth has strange and devious influences. It causes to flow the milk of human kindness, it makes one's