al
truth. And then, you know, there has been a little talk. That
mother-in-law of yours has been gossiping about us. Some day, Romer's
bound to get hold of it, and then where shall we be? Don't you see,
dear," he went on more gently, "this will stop all that? Wouldn't it be
better for me to be married--just in this official sort of way--to
remain in England, and be able to see you just the same as ever--very
soon--than to go out to the colonies or somewhere, and never see you
again at all? There's no doubt I've got to do something. I'm in a
frightful hole. Seven thousand a year--a place in the country--and a
decent sort of girl, dropped down on me, as it were, from heaven! I
hadn't the slightest idea of such luck--and hadn't any pretensions to
it. But the girl has taken a liking to me, and her mother wants to get
her married. It's ugly--unromantic--but there are the facts. If you
cared for me really, I shouldn't think you would want to stand in my
way."

"Very well, do it, then," she said, drying her eyes. "If you can speak
in this heartless way it shows you are very different from what I
believed you. But it will kill me; I shall never get over it."

She was rushing away when Harry caught her hand and stopped her.

"Listen," he said, in an impressive voice. "Go to your room, bathe your
eyes, and calm yourself down. Make no more scenes, for heaven's sake,
and we'll see what can be done."

"Oh, Harry, really--_is_ there any hope? Or are you deceiving me again?"

"I've almost agreed to it, you know," he said. "Still, there's not what
one could call an actual engagement yet. At any rate, it might be
delayed. I'll see; I'll think--really if I weren't so hard up I wouldn't
do it."

"Oh, Harry!" A gleam of joy came into her eyes, and she clasped her
hands.

"Then you won't worry me any more about it for the next few days?" he
asked.

"I promise;" and smiling sweetly through her tears she left him, going
into the house. Her room, on the same floor as Romer's, was at the other
end of the corridor, so she did not even pass his door, and had not the
slightest idea that he was at home.

He was still at the window, looking out apparently at the garden.

Harry gave an impatient sigh, lit a cigarette and strolled off through
the garden.

It had been about three o'clock when Romer had come in and sat down by
the window. He was still there in precisely the same position at seven,
when his valet brought his hot water.