Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/149

 worldly goods with which to endow her," he remarked casually.

"You are almost as bad as Aunt Caroline," said Beresford. "You're always thinking of the morrow. For my part I'm going to have a good time so long as the funds last, and after that" he shrugged his shoulders.

"It's always a mistake to live to the extent of our resources," remarked Drewitt casually.

"I've never regarded you as an economist."

"That, my dear Richard, is because you always take everything so literally. To you economy means the saving of money."

"And to you?"

"It might mean anything, from early morning tea to treasure in heaven."

"What the deuce are you driving at?"

"If a man takes everything the world has to offer," continued Drewitt evenly, "he will sooner or later find himself morally bankrupt, with nothing to look forward to as a comfort for his old age. Now I have reserved two things for my euthanasia, early morning tea and marriage."

"Marriage?" exclaimed Beresford.

"I was about to add, Richard, when you rudely interrupted me, thus I have before me a comfort and an experience. I have forgone early morning tea all my life, taking coffee instead, which I prefer. I would have done the same with turtle soup, only I thought of it too late; personally I regard turtle soup as much over-rated."