nd her expression grew less
complaisant.

"Indeed?" she said interrogatively.

"Yes," he went on quietly. "I am quite aware that Nell deserves----Perhaps
I'd better tell you the income we shall have to get along on."

He mentioned the sum which the remnant of his fortune would produce,
and, though it was much smaller than Mrs. Lorton had expected, it was
large enough to cause her countenance to relax something of its
stiffness.

"It is not a large income," she said. "And I cannot but remember that
Eleanor, though she is not a Wolfer by birth, is connected with the
family; and that, if she were taken up by them, she might--one never
knows what may happen under favorable circumstances. A season in London
with my people----"

Drake nodded.

"I know," he said, "Nell is worthy of the best, and no doubt if she were
in London I should stand a poor chance; but it's my luck that she isn't,
you see. And"--his voice dropped--"and I'm conceited enough to believe
that she cares for me; and I don't suppose my poverty will make any
difference. Heaven knows, I wish I were rich, for her sake!"

"Well, we must make the best of it," said the good lady. "After all,
money isn't everything." She spoke as if she were suffering from the
burden of a million. "True hearts are more than coronets. I must write
and tell my cousin, Lord Wolfer."

"I wouldn't! I mean, is it necessary--at any rate, just yet?" said
Drake. It was just possible that Lord Wolfer might interest himself
sufficiently to ask questions; he might, indeed, connect "Drake Vernon"
with the two first names of Viscount Selbie. And Drake--well, this was
the first bit of romance in his life, and he clung to it. The idea of
marrying Nell, of marrying her as plain "Drake Vernon," down on his
luck, was sweet to him. He could tell her after the wedding, when they
were too far away to suffer from the fuss which Mrs. Lorton would
inevitably make over the revelation.

"You see, we shall have to be married very quietly; and I'm thinking of
spending some time abroad, on the Continent--Nell will like to see a
foreign city or two--and, do you think it's worth while troubling your
people?"

The "your people" flattered her, and she yielded, with a sigh.

"As you please, Mr. Vernon--but I suppose I must now call you 'Drake'?"
she broke off, with a simper; "though, really, it sounds so strange,
and--er--so familiar."

Drake wondered whether he ought to kiss her as he murmured assent.