'Just so fiery red was your hair, Theo, at his age. Little Gampy is much like you, only a great deal handsomer, of course.'

His eyebrows shot up in their characteristic quizzical manner when he teased. She smiled at him, thinking how young he looked for all his forty-seven years. Over the fine bones the flesh was firm and ruddy, scarcely marred by a wrinkle. Though his hair had receded a trifle from his forehead, it was still brown and abundant. He never lost or gained a pound, nor had he since his eighteenth year, having long ago found the secret of his interior chemistry. He looked young and buoyant, in some ways younger than Merne, she thought with dismay.

But she couldn't think of Merne now.

Seated with her father at the other end of the supper table, she slipped insensibly into the old familiar pattern, stirring the sauces as he liked them, watching anxiously for his approval of her choice of wine, responding to his affectionate banter with eager amusement. Deep underneath, her love for Merne throbbed poignantly, but she dared not even think of it now.

That she could have been with him this morning, close in his arms, his lips on hers, seemed incredible while Aaron sat there chatting of Joseph, or telling her witty stories of his pursuit of the lady Céleste.

'The lady leads me on,' said Aaron, chuckling; 'then, as I gallantly approach, she runs for cover, cheeks mantling, eyelids fluttering as though she were fifteen instead of—well, I shall not be so cruel as to hazard a guess. She bids me begone, then summons me back with vague little notes which I' cannot fathom. What, ma chère, is your opinion of all this?'

Theo sipped her wine and pretended to consider. 'Well, here is my opinion. She meant from the beginning to say that awful word yes, but, not choosing to say it immediately, she told you that you had furnished her with arguments against matrimony, which means, "Please, sir, to persuade me out of them again." But you took it as a plump refusal and walked off. She called you back. What more could she do? I would have seen you in Japan, before I should have done as much.'

Aaron laughed. 'No doubt you arc right, my Minerva. Perhaps also she sensed that her five thousand pounds dowry attracted me more than her full-blown charms. I must find me some more congenial way of raising a little money.'

Theo frowned. 'Is it so bad? Were you really considering marriage seriously? I thought it all in jest.'

"Tis no jest, alas, I'm hard-pressed again. Barring a rich wife, which I really cannot stomach, I fear I must sell Richmond Hill.'