Mr. Barlow looked at her with surprise.

’My dear Miss Nancarrow, nobody ever said you shouldn’t.  It isn’t a question of your marrying, but of two hundred and fifty pounds.’

’I don’t see what it’s got to do with anybody who I choose to marry.’

’Jusso, jusso! nothing could be truer.  It’s only a question of two hundred and fifty pounds.’

Totty was about to make another indignant remark, but she checked herself.  Her toes were tapping together very rapidly; she watched them for half a minute, then asked: 

’ And suppose I don’t choose to marry anybody at all?’

‘I see you are capable of following these things,’ said Mr. Barlow, smiling.  ’If you reach the age of five-and-twenty without marrying, the money goes to another purpose, of which it is not necessary to speak.’

’Oh!  I don’t see why my uncle bothered himself so much about me marrying.’

’No doubt your late uncle had some good reason for these provisions, Miss Nancarrow,’ said the other, gravely.  ’We should speak respectfully of those who are no more.  It seems to me your late uncle took very kind thought for you.’

Totty considered that, but neither assented nor differed.

‘Will you tell me,’ she asked after a silence, speaking with a good deal of hauteur, ‘what sort of a man you’d approve of?’

’With pleasure, Miss Nancarrow; with very great pleasure.  Mr. Higgins and me have thought over the subject, have given it our best attention.  We think that by laying down three conditions we shall meet the case.’

He stared at the ceiling, till Totty asked: 

‘Well, and what are they, sir?’

’Pray do not interrupt me; I was about to tell you.  First, then, this man’s age must be at least three-and-twenty.  You understand?’

‘I think I do.’

’Secondly, he must have a recognised profession, business, trade, or handicraft, and must satisfy me and Mr. Higgins that he is able to support a wife.’

‘And then?’

’And then, as you say, Miss Nancarrow, he must be able to prove to me and Mr. Higgins that he has lived in one and the same house for a year previous to his marriage with you.’

Mr. Barlow delivered this with slow emphasis, as if such a test of respectability were the finest fruit of administrative wisdom.

Totty laughed.  She had expected something quite different.

‘You smile, Miss Nancarrow?’ remarked Mr. Barlow, with a slightly offended air.

‘No, I was laughing.’

‘And at what, pray?’

‘Nothing.’

‘H’m.  Well, I hope I have made everything clear to you.’

‘All the same, sir, I shall marry whoever I like.’

’I’ve no doubt whatever you will.  I shall leave you my address, Miss Nancarrow, so that you can communicate with me at any moment.’

‘Thank you, sir.’  She took the offered card and thrust it into her pocket.  ‘And if I don’t want to marry at all, I shan’t.’