Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 2.djvu/195

 'Is she really a princess?'

'I don't know what you mean by "really." I suppose all titles are great rot. But every one seems agreed to call her so.'

'You know I have always liked to enter into your life; and to-day the wish is stronger than ever,' the old man observed, presently, fixing his eyes very steadily on Hyacinth's.

The latter returned his gaze for a moment; then he asked, 'What makes you say that just now?'

The fiddler appeared to deliberate, and at last he replied, 'Because you are in danger of losing the best friend you have ever had.'

'Be sure I feel it. But if I have got you' Hyacinth added.

'Oh, me! I'm very old, and very tired of life.'

'I suppose that that's what one arrives at. Well, if I can help you in any way you must lean on me, you must make use of me.'

'That's precisely what I was going to say to you,' said Mr. Vetch. 'Should you like any money?'

'Of course I should! But why should you offer it to me?'

'Because in saving it up, little by little, I have had you in mind.'

'Dear Mr. Vetch,' said Hyacinth, 'you have me too much in mind. I'm not worth it, please believe that; for all sorts of reasons. I should make money enough for any uses I have for it, or have any right to have, if I stayed quietly in London and attended to my work. As you know, I can earn a decent living.'