136 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.
his mother, Lady Forsyth, thought an important item in the charms of marriageable young ladies.
It is difficult to fathom the thoughts of man, and to say whether the best of God's creatures is mercenary or not; whether the most virtuous may not be influenced now and then by the worst passions. So far as the narrator of this history is concerned, he is inclined to think Philip did not note the worldly hint of Mrs. Milbanke, or, if he did, that it had no influence with him, though the hostess more than once made some passing reference to the responsibilities of marriage being so greatly lessened if there was money on both sides; or if there was money on one side and genius on the other, quite in a more or less inconsequential way getting in a reference to an artist whom they both knew who was very clever but still could not sell his pictures, and what an important thing it was in art for a man to be more or less independent of dealers, so that he could afford to follow the bent of his genius or his inclination, and do the work he liked best; and so on — an eloquent rush of worldly wisdom, most useful in regard to young people, about to contract a marriage, and especially to a couple of young people, the bride pretty, with money and social position, and the bridegroom an artist, also with social position, a little money, perhaps, and no end of genius and ability, if he could only paint what he wished and be independent of the Academy and of dealers; and somehow Philip found himself, before he quite knew where he was, discussing these delicate matters, as if he or Dolly, or both, were personally concerned in them.
And once, Dolly's hand being near Philip's, he laid his upon hers, and she, not withdrawing it, he pressed the fair hand, and was very sensible of its soft pliability. The gentle pressure that responded to his, when he ventured a little further and took Dolly's hand fairly within his own, set his heart beating, and he forgot everything except Dolly
