Mr. Prohack raised both arms on high.

“All right,” said the young spouse, absurdly proud of her position.  “I’ll let you off with your life this time, and you can drop your arms again.  But if anybody had told me that you would come here and make a noise like a plutocrat I wouldn’t have believed it.  Still, I’m frightfully fond of you and I know you’d do anything for me, and you’re nearly as much of a darling as Ozzie, but you mustn’t be a rich man when you call on me here.  I couldn’t bear it twice.”

“I retire in disorder, closely pursued by the victorious enemy,” said Mr. Prohack.  And in so saying he accurately described the situation.  He had been more than defeated—­he had been exquisitely snubbed.  And yet the singular creature was quite pleased.  He looked at the young girl, no longer his and no longer a girl either, set in the midst of a japanned and lacquered room that so resembled Ozzie in its daintiness; he saw the decision on her brow, the charm in her eyes, and the elegance in her figure and dress, and he came near to bursting with pride.  “She’s got character enough to beat even me,” he reflected contentedly, thus exhibiting an ingenuousness happily rare among fathers of brilliant daughters.  And even the glimpse of the cupboard kitchen, where the washing-up after a chafing-dish breakfast for two had obviously not yet been accomplished—­even this touch seemed only to intensify the moral and physical splendour of his child in her bridal setting.

“At the same time,” he added to the admission of defeat, “I seem to have a sort of idea that lately you’ve been carrying on rather like a plutocrat’s daughter.”

“That was only my last fling,” she replied, quite unperturbed.

“I see,” said Mr. Prohack musingly.  “Now as regards my wedding present to you.  Am I permitted to offer any gift, or is it forbidden?  Of course with all my millions I couldn’t hope to rival the gift which Ozzie gave you, but I might come in a pretty fair second, mightn’t I?”

“Dad,” said she.  “I must leave all that to your good taste.  I’m sure that it won’t let you make any attack on our independence.”

“Supposing that I were to find some capital for Ozzie to start in business for himself as a theatrical manager?  He must know a good deal about the job by this time.”

Sissie shook her delicious head.

“No, that would be plutocratic.  And you see I’ve only just married Ozzie.  I don’t know anything about him yet.  When I do, I shall come and talk to you.  While you’re waiting I wish you’d give me some crockery.  One breakfast cup isn’t quite enough for two people, after the first day.  I saw a set of things in a shop in Oxford Street for L1. 19. 6 which I should love to have....  What’s happened to the mater?  Is she in a great state about me?  Hadn’t you better run off and put her out of her misery?”

He went, thoughtful.

III