o inform you in confidence that it is her fixed intention
not to marry, and that it is practically certain that she will not
depart from that resolution--in which case the ultimate arrangement
which I have indicated will come into effect."

The bribe was out--and fewest possible words spent over it! Now--how
would he take it?

His manner showed nothing. He sat silent for a minute or two. Then he
said, "It's certainly princely." He smiled slightly again. "I think I
must apologize for my word 'provision.' This is a very large fortune,
Mr. Austin--or seems like it to poor folks like the Laceys."

"It's a very considerable fortune. As I have said, Miss Driver regards
Margaret Octon as in the place of her own daughter. Miss Driver thought
it only right that these circumstances should be placed before you as
possibly bearing on the decision you felt it your duty to make yourself,
or to recommend to your son."

"Why does she do it?" he asked abruptly.

"I've just given you the reason which I was directed to give. I wasn't
commissioned to give any other. She regards Miss Octon in the light of
an only child--the natural object of her bounty and, in due course of
time, her natural successor."

"We met once at Hatcham Ford, Mr. Austin," he said abruptly. "You
remember? I think you knew pretty well the state of things then existing
between Miss Driver and myself? I've charged you with possessing that
knowledge before. That piece of knowledge may enable you to understand
how the present proposition affects me. This isn't all love for Margaret
Octon."

"No, not all love for Margaret. But now you're asking me for my opinion,
not for my message."

"I didn't mean it as a question. But I see that you agree with me. Then
you may understand that I can feel no gratitude for this offer. It--and
consequently the arrangement of which it is a part--would transform
everything here. It would accomplish the task which I haven't even had
the courage to try to accomplish. It would blot out my great failure.
But, coming whence it does and why it does, I can feel no gratitude for
it."

"It would be very far from Miss Driver's thoughts to expect anything of
the kind."

Suddenly he pushed back his chair, rose to his feet, and went to the
window, impatiently letting one of the ugly brown blinds fly up to the
ceiling by a tug at its cord. He stood there two or three minutes. His
back was still toward me when he spoke again.

"I've been a st