t all?"

Mollie put her hand to her side with a gesture as natural as it was
charming.

"It hurt," she said simply. "I never, never dreamt that you meant me,
and I have tried hard not to think of you ever since; but I didn't
succeed very well... Why did you always write to Ruth instead of to
me?"

Jack laughed happily, and with a lover's privilege seated himself on the
arm of the easy-chair, and took Mollie's hands in his.

"Because, as I told you before, you darling, I was waiting. And do you
really think you could make up your mind to marry me on next to nothing,
and live in a tiny house, and wrestle with the household bills? Do you
think I am worth the sacrifice?"

Mollie smiled at him, shyly confident.

"I'm so improvident that I'm afraid I'd marry you on nothing. I haven't
a copper of my own, remember. You will have a penniless bride. Oh, I
wish more than ever that Uncle Bernard had left me something, so that I
might help you! It does seem hard, doesn't it, that Victor Druce should
get it all?"

Jack hesitated a moment, tugging at his moustache with his unoccupied
hand.

"I didn't say that, you know. I never told you that he did."

"Jack!"

The name slipped out so naturally on the surprise of the moment that
there was a prolonged interval in the conversation, while Jack
acknowledged the compliment. Then Mollie returned to the attack,
laughing and rosy.

"You asked if I were surprised. You said everyone had taken it for
granted!"

"Exactly; so I did. But for once everyone was mistaken. Druce has not
come in for the property."

"Then, who--who--"

"Someone equally unworthy--an ungracious rascal of a fellow called
Melland. It is all mine, Mollie--all that there is to leave!"

And then Jack did a pretty thing--a thing that he would have sneered at
as high-flown and sentimental a few months before; but no man really
knows himself or his capabilities till he loves and is beloved. He
slipped off his seat, and knelt on the floor at Mollie's feet.

"And I have come to you," he said gravely, "to ask you to share it with
me, for it's worth nothing, and worse than nothing, if I have not you by
my side!"

He held out his hand as he spoke, and Mollie laid hers in it, while her
face confronted him, white and tense with excitement.

"I can't--I can't believe it!" she gasped. "It is too wonderful! You
and me! That lovely, lovely place; and we the masters of it, able to do
as we like--just