me to
consider."

"Thank you, Mrs Evans, but what is there to consider? If Mother has no
money, what can I possibly do but give her mine?"

"You must share it with her, of course; no right-minded daughter could
do less. But--there are different ways of doing it, Mary, dear! It is
your own money. You ought to reserve to yourself the right to decide,
and to order your own life."

But Mary shook her head.

"You don't know Mother. I do. There would be no peace. I'll leave it
to her to do as she likes. I've had my fling, Mrs Evans, a whole year
of being alone, and free to do as I liked. I--I was very lonely. I
shan't be altogether sorry..."

Mrs Evans was silent, her keen eyes fixed upon Mary's face searching
for some sign of change or growth, but there was none to be seen. The
vagrant year had come and gone, and had left no mark. Its end found her
prepared to settle down into her old attitude of dumb submission, "not
altogether sorry!" Mrs Evans kissed her silently, and said no more.

In the drawing-room Dane and Teresa faced each other across the tea
table. At last they were alone, safe from interruption. As the door
shut behind the departing guests Dane held out his arm with a gesture of
invitation, but Teresa shook her head, holding him off with a lifted
hand.

"Not now. ... Wait! There is so much to be said.--Sit down, Dane. I
hope you didn't think me unkind not seeing you yesterday. I couldn't!
It has been such a shock. I had to think things out. The money
question alters everything. There has not been time to go into business
matters, but from all we have heard, from what the letter said, it seems
that this loss was the last of a series. Poor Father! he must have
suffered horribly, but he said nothing; only speculated more wildly than
ever, hoping to put things straight. It's a mercy Mary has her money.
She will look after Mother. It's her duty, but I am different. I could
never live on Mary." She raised her voice, silencing the words on
Danes' tongue. "I have told them that I shall look after myself."

"I shan't let you do that! Dear, I have only been waiting till you gave
me a chance of speaking. As soon as it can possibly be arranged we
must--"

But again Teresa's voice interrupted, hastily drowning his own.

"Wait, please! You must wait. I'll tell you my plans, but first,
there's something I must give you back." To his dismay he saw her draw
the diamond circlet from he