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322 talk about a friendly interest! You're not a cold-blooded youth to weigh the merits of a girl before deciding whether to fall in love with her or not. You've got too much healthy impetuosity for that, thank heaven."

"I wonder if I have, any longer!" Floyd thought moodily; he made no answer to his grandfather's comment, and presently Colonel Halket continued in a voice that was for him quite unusually sympathetic,—

"I'm glad to have this confidence, Floyd. It makes it easier—and more interesting for me."

Floyd, with an effort, assumed a humorous gayety.

"You must n't run round talking about it to people," he said. "For it has n't got so far as that."

"I won't," Colonel Halket promised with a faint smile. "If there's any way of hurrying it up, though—it would be a special favor."

"I'm afraid there's not very much hope of that."

"Why not? You're certainly in a better position to get married than most men of your age—and you don't need to feel there's any uncertainty about your future. Everything that's mine is to be yours—practically everything; of course there are some bequests; I was sure you would n't begrudge them."

"I'd rather you would n't leave me so much," said Floyd.

"You'll soon get used to managing it—and I can trust you to manage it well. Better to put it in the hands of one thoroughly responsible, competent person—who's not selfish—than spread it out among a lot of charities and institutions that I'll no longer be alive to watch. I'll be criticised, of course—but I haven't used my money entirely for myself—and leaving it to you won't be shutting it up in die family—though it may seem so. Well, there is one public bequest—a large one—that may stop the cynic's mouth—though God knows that's not its purpose." The old man, lying still on the pillow, winked away sudden tears. "I'm counting on you to