You know, fools build houses, and wise men live in
them.'
'So I have heard,' said Susy thoughtfully.
'Well, two fools are building the house that we will call the Canadian
Mica-mine, and I am the wise man, don't you see, Susy?' said the young
man, with a sweet smile.
'I'm afraid I don't quite understand, sir.'
'I don't suppose, Susy,' replied the young man, with a laugh, 'that
there are many who do; but I think in a month's time I shall own this
mica-mine, and then, my dear, if you still want to own a share or two,
I shall be very pleased to give you a few without your spending any
money at all.'
'Oh, would you, sir?' cried Susy in glad surprise; 'and who owns the
mine now?'
'Oh, two fellows; you wouldn't know their names if I told them to you.'
'And are they going to sell it to you, sir?'
William laughed heartily, and said:
'Oh no! they themselves will be sold.'
'But how can that be if they don't own the mine? You see, I'm only a very
stupid girl, and don't understand business. That's why I asked you about
my money.'
'I don't suppose you know what an option is, do you, Susy?'
'No, sir, I don't; I never heard of it before.'
'Well, these two young men have what is called an option on the mine,
which is to say that they are to pay a certain sum of money at a certain
time and the mine is theirs; but if they don't pay the certain sum at the
certain time, the mine isn't theirs.'
'And won't they pay the money, sir?'
'No, Susy, they will not, because, don't you know, they haven't got it.
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