"
He checked himself, laughed, and said something about the beauty of
the lane along which they were walking.
"Don't you think," fell from Irene's lips, "that Mr. John Jacks is a
very human type of the man of business?"
"Indeed he is!" replied Piers, with spirit. "An admirable type."
"I have been told that he owed most of his success to his brothers,
who are a different sort of men."
"His wealth, perhaps."
"Yes, there's a difference," said Irene, glancing at him. "You may
be successful without becoming wealthy; though not of course in the
common opinion. But what would have been the history of England
these last fifty years, but for our men of iron selfishness? Isn't
it a fact that only in this way could we have built up an Empire
which ensures the civilisation of the world?"
Piers could not answer with his true thought, for he knew all that
was implied in her suggestion of that view. He bent his head and
spoke very quietly.
"Some of our best men think so."
An answer which gratified Irene more keenly than he imagined; she
showed it in her face.
When they returned to luncheon, and the ladies went upstairs, Mrs.
Hannaford stepped into her niece's room.
"What you told me yesterday," she asked, in a nervous undertone,
"may it be repeated?"
"Certainly--to anyone."
"Then please not to come down until I have had a few minutes' talk
with Mr.
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