which was almost sublime,
or--what was it? She looked at him as if she could see into his soul.
"Oh," she said, "I know your generosity. I feel as if I could not trust
you when you say it doesn't matter. How could I ever forgive myself if
you were injuring your own prospects for Geoff!--if it was for Geoff."

For Geoff! Warrender laughed aloud, almost roughly, in a way which half
offended her. Could anybody suppose for a moment that for that ugly,
precocious little boy--? "You need not distress yourself on that account,
Lady Markland," he said. "It is not for Geoff,--I had made up my mind on
that question long ago,--but by way of occupying my idle time--And if
you think me good enough----"

"Oh, good enough!" she said. But she was too much alarmed and startled
to make any definite reply. Almost for the first time she became conscious
that Theo was neither a boy nor a visionary young hero of the Sir
Galahad kind, but a man like other men. The further discovery which
awaited her, that she herself was not a dignified recluse from life, a
queen mother ruling the affairs of her son's kingdom for him and not for
herself: but in other people's eyes, at least, a young woman, still open
to other thoughts, was still far from Lady Markland's mind.

CHAPTER XX.

"You will give me my answer after you have thought it all over."

"Certainly you shall have an answer: and in the meantime my thanks; or
if there is any word more grateful than thanks,--more than words can
say----"

He turned to look back as he closed the little gate for foot passengers
at the end of the bare road which was called the avenue, and took off
his hat as she waved her hand to him. Then she turned back again towards
the house. It was a ruddy October afternoon, the sun going down in gold
and crimson, with already the deeper, more gorgeous colours of winter
in the sky. Geoff was hanging upon her arm, clinging to it with both of
his, walking in her very shadow, as was his wont.

"Why do you thank Theo Warrender like that? What has he done for us?"
asked Geoff.

"I don't think, dear, that you should talk of him in that familiar way.
Theo! He is old enough to be"--here she paused for a moment, not pleased
with the suggestion, and then added--"he might be your elder brother, at
least."

"Not unless I had another mamma," said Geoff. "Theo is about as old as
you."

"Oh no; much younger than I am. Do you remember you once said you would
like him for y