!" she said bluntly.
"It's a lovely, lovely house, and the grounds are lovely, and the spring
flowers are coming up, and we can live out of doors, and be as happy as
the day is long. I am not going to worry my head about the money, or
anything else. I'll be nice to Uncle Bernard in my own way, as nice as
he will let me; but he said that we could enjoy ourselves, and I am
going to take him at his word, and do every single thing I like. It's
an opportunity which may never occur again, as the shop people say in
their circulars, and it would be foolish not to make the most of it."

"I want the money!" said Ruth clearly. The pretty flush had faded from
her cheeks, and she looked suddenly wan and white. The hands which were
resting on her knee trembled visibly. She had evidently strung herself
up to what she considered a necessary confession, and her eyes turned to
one after another of her companions in wistful apology.

"I want it dreadfully! I have been poor all my life, and have longed to
be rich, and I would rather live here, in this house, than anywhere else
in the world. If we are going to live together and be friends we ought
to be honest with each other from the beginning. It's selfish, but it's
true! I want the money, and I mean to do every single thing in my power
to get it."

"Bravo!" cried a man's voice suddenly. Mollie was frowning and biting
her lips in obvious discomfort; Victor Druce's drooping lids once more
hid his eyes from sight as he stood with folded arms leaning against the
palm. It was Jack Melland who had spoken--Jack Melland, roused for once
to display unqualified approval and enthusiasm. He bent forward on his
seat, hands in his pockets, his tall, lithe figure swaying gently to and
fro as he faced Ruth with his bright blue eyes.

"Bravo, Miss Farrell! I admire your honesty, and wish you good luck.
You are perfectly justified in doing all you can to gain your point, and
I sincerely hope you may be successful. It is only right that a Farrell
should inherit the Court, and if you were the old man's grand-daughter,
you could not possibly be more like him."

Ruth flushed, but did not reply. Victor Druce's measured voice cut like
a sword across the silence.

"You are unselfish, Melland! Are you quite sure that you share the
honesty which you admire so much in Miss Farrell? Have you forgotten
how the question affects yourself?"

Jack Melland jumped lightly to the ground and straight