"
"But he hasn't any money," objected Lucia.
"If he had, no doubt you'd find him quite tolerable. Even you--a
young innocent."
"It does make a difference," admitted Lucia. "You see, people have
to have money or they can't live like gentlemen and ladies."
"That's it," laughed Margaret. "What's a little thing like self-
respect beside ease and comfort and luxury? As grandmother said, a
lady who'd put anything before luxury has lost her self-respect."
"Everybody that's nice ought to have money," declared Lucia. "Then
the world would be beautiful, full of love and romance, with
everybody clean and well-dressed and never in a hurry."
But Margaret seemed not to hear. She was gazing at the fountain,
her unseeing eyes gloomily reflecting her thoughts.
"If Mr. Craig hasn't got money why marry him?" asked her sister.
"He can get it," replied Margaret tersely. "He's the man to
trample and crowd and clutch, and make everybody so uncomfortable
that they'll gladly give him what he's snatching for." She laughed
mockingly. "Yes, I shall get what I want"--then soberly--"if I can
get him."
"Get HIM! Why, he'll be delighted! And he ought to be."
"No, he oughtn't to be; but he will be.
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