Page:That Royle Girl (Balmer).pdf/104

 "Oh, he's substantial!" Daisy admitted.

"He was here for nearly an hour this afternoon. He was most considerate of me—most, Daisy."

"He would be," said Daisy, and understood who had presented the large box of the most expensive chocolates.

"He is very much interested in you, Daisy."

"Don't I know it?" Daisy cried, wrenched by a pang of the self-abasement which often seized her when she received advice from her mother. For this meant that mamma, who had favored Ket and wanted Daisy to plan to marry Ket when he had honor and a big income, already had abandoned Ket and wanted Daisy to make the most of an opportunity with Hoberg.

"He not only makes money; he must have a lot, with all his buildings," observed mamma.

"Don't I know it?"

"He's never married, he tells me."

"That's right," agreed Daisy. "He doesn't marry any of 'em."

"Any of whom?" asked mamma.

"You name 'em," said Daisy.

"You could marry him!"

"I could?" repeated Daisy. "Not last night, I couldn't. Not that I tried or wanted to. But I know; I couldn't."

"You could now!"

"How could I now?" Daisy asked.

"Now," mamma emphasized, not childishly at all but very sagely, "now is different."

"How's it different?"

"Act quick and careful," mamma counseled, "and you can marry him. I've talked to him, I tell you; he was here twice to-day, and now he's out looking for you."

Daisy removed her arms from about her mother who wanted her to act "careful and quick" so that she could