Mr Vane chewed his moustache, disconsolately resigned.
"Ah well! the partnership will have to go to a stranger, I suppose. I
can't get on much longer without help. I hoped it might be one of my
own kith and kin, but--"
"Don't be in a hurry, dear. I may fall in love with a pauper, and then
you can have a son-in-law to help you, instead of a son."
Mr Vane pushed her away with an impatient hand.
"No more son-in-laws, thank you! One is about as many as I can tackle
at a time. Edith has been at me again with a sheaf of bills--"
His eldest daughter's husband had recently failed in business, in
consequence of which he himself was at present supporting a second
establishment. He sighed, and reflected that it was a thankless task to
rear a family. The infantine troubles of teething, whooping-cough, and
scarlatina were trifles as compared with the later annoyance and
difficulties of dealing with striplings who had the audacity to imagine
themselves grown-up, and competent to have a say in their own lives!
If things turned out well, they took the credit to themselves! If ill,
then papa had to pay the bills! Mr Vane was convinced that he was an
ill-used and much-to-be-pitied martyr.