"Oh, I don't know. She has such a daring adventurous streak in her. I want you to be my friend, Mrs. Wharnecliffe. I can afford to marry. I am in business in the city, and it's doing well. I can give her a comfortable home, and at my father's death, I come into the family property. I'm the only son. Gentian has no need to earn her living. I am ready and waiting to give her a happy home. Do talk to her, and let something definite come of this visit of mine. I'm so glad to find her amongst people of her own. You're a kind of cousin, aren't you? Do, for her sake, if not mine, persuade her to be properly engaged to me, and then we'll get married as soon as possible." Mrs. Wharnecliffe was touched by the young man's impetuosity. "Do you think you would be really able to make her happy?" she said slowly. "You see, I place Gentian first. She is almost like a daughter to me already, and I am certain that if Gentian married where she did not really love, a very unhappy future would be in store for herself and her husband. She is a very wilful little person. I think you are the same. Would you expect her to give way to you always?" Jim looked slightly uncomfortable. "Oh, if she belonged to me, I would make her happy," he said; "it's the uncertainty that irritates me at times." "Do you want me to talk to Gentian and plead your cause?" "If you will. She's missed her mother so, and old Waddy is no good at all. You're a woman of the world, and you can make her see that we can't go on in this indefinite way any longer. It's good for neither of us." "And you'll take your dismissal courageously and quietly, if she wishes it?" Jim's face fell. "Oh, she can't dismiss me after all these years. I won't think it possible." They talked together for some little time, and finally Mrs. Wharnecliffe promised to speak to Gentian the next morning. CHAPTER V AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE THE young people met at breakfast as if nothing had happened between them. Gentian was her bright happy self again; she wanted to drive Jim to the town in her car, but he made the excuse that he was going to write business letters in the library and would prefer not to go out till the afternoon. Mrs. Wharnecliffe was just going to speak to Gentian when Thorold arrived over. He had come to ask Gentian if she could possibly take the organ the following Sunday. "Could I do it?" she questioned half-diffidently, half-eagerly. "If you come to the practice to-night at six o'clock, our organist would be there, and would put you in the way of it; but he has to go away to see a sick relation to-morrow, and will not be back till Monday." "I'll come. Mr. Paget is here; would you like to see him?" "I shall be very glad to make his acquaintance. Does he know of the buffer's existence?" "I've dragged you into every other sentence. I think he thinks you and Mrs. Wharnecliffe are brother and sister, and you mustn't undeceive him." Then she looked at him sternly.