“Well, Smith, what do you think of her?” asked Perkins, as the two gained the street.

“You’re sure she’s worth fifty thousand dollars?”

“Oh, yes.  There’s no mistake about that.”

“But how do you know?  This is a matter about which there should be no mistake.”

“I got a friend to examine the transfer books of the bank where the stock is.  Will that satisfy you?”

“You did?  And pray why did you do that?”

“A strange question! but I’ll tell you, as you seem dull.  I had a notion of her myself.”

“You had?”

“I had.”

“And why did you get out of the notion?”

“Because I saw another whom I liked better.”

“She was richer, I suppose.”

“How can you insinuate such a thing?” And Perkins laughed in a low, meaning chuckle.

“Ah, I perceive.  Well, how much is she worth?”

“About a hundred thousand.”

“Are you sure of her?”

“Certainly!  The thing’s all settled.”

“You’re a lucky dog, Perkins!  But see here, what did you mean by the premium you talked of for bringing about a match between me and Miss Riston?”

“Oh, as to that, I was only jesting.  But you haven’t told me how you like the young lady yet.”

“Oh, she’ll do, I reckon,” said Smith, tossing his head half contemptuously.

“Do you think you can secure her?”

“Easily enough.  But then I must get her away as often as possible from that old Cerberus of an aunt.  I didn’t like her looks at all.”

“She’s suspicious.”

“That’s clear.  Well, she must be wide awake if I commence playing against her in real earnest.  I can win any girl’s affections that I choose.”

“You have a pretty fair conceit of yourself, I see.”

“I wouldn’t give a cent for a man that hadn’t.  The fact is, Perkins, these girls have but one end in view, and that is to get married.  They know that they have to wait to be asked, and, trembling in fear lest they shall not get another offer, they are always ready to jump eagerly at the first.”

“Pretty true, I believe.  But, Smith, don’t you think Margaretta quite a fair specimen of a girl?”

“Oh, yes.  And I have no doubt that I shall love her well enough, if she don’t attempt to put on airs, and throw up to me that she was rich, and I poor.  I’ll never stand that.”

“She’ll not be so foolish, I presume.”

“She’d better not, I can tell her, if she doesn’t wish to get into hot water.”  And the young man laughed at his own half-in-earnest jesting.

“He’s a very agreeable young man, isn’t he, aunt?” said Margaretta, after the two young men had gone away.

“Who?  Mr. Smith, as Mr. Perkins called him?”

“Yes.”

“He has a smooth enough tongue, if that is any recommendation; but I do not like him.  Indeed, he is far more disagreeable to me than his very particular friend, Mr. Perkins.”