"
Diana hastily concealed a smile.
"I didn't know you were contemplating matrimony," she observed.
"I'm not"--reddening a little. "But--well, one day I expect I shall.
It's quite the usual sort of thing--done by all the best people. But
it can't be managed on two hundred a year! And that's the net amount
of my princely income."
"But I thought that your people had plenty of money?"
"So they have--trucks of it. Coal-trucks!"--with a debonair reference
to the fact that Leigh _pere_ was a wealthy coal-owner. "But, you see,
when I was having my fling, which came to such an abrupt end at Monte,
the governor got downright ratty with me--kicked up no end of a shine.
Told me not to darken his doors again, and that I might take my own
road to the devil for all he cared, and generally played the part of
the outraged parent. I must say," he added ingenuously, "that the old
boy had paid my debts and set me straight a good many times before he
_did_ cut up rusty."
"You're the only child, aren't you?" Jerry nodded. "Oh, well then, of
course he'll come round in time--they always do. I shouldn't worry a
bit if I were you."
"Well," said Jerry hesitatingly, "I did think that perhaps if I went to
him some day with a certificate of good character and steady work from
Errington, it might smooth matters a bit. I'm fond of the governor,
you know, in spite of his damn bad temper--and it must be rather rotten
for the old chap living all by himself at Abbotsleigh.
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