Mrs. Wharnecliffe, looking out of her morning-room, suddenly rang her bell, and gave orders that tea was to be delayed half an hour. At the end of that time, she walked out to the acacia tree, and received the news with great equanimity. "And now do you think all your troubles are at an end, Gentian?" she asked, smiling. "Troubles?" repeated the girl with shining eyes. "Oh, indeed they are! The whole world is changed to me. Now, Mrs. Wharnecliffe, I shall have a right to go off to Cornwall as often as I like, and a right to have my say in his house, and everything that concerns him. I have a right to look after him in every way. How I've longed to do it! I can hardly believe it is true! Just think. An hour ago I had no hope—no certainty or knowledge of what was to become of me—I was lonely and miserable. I had made a mess of my affairs in town—I had offended the Misses Buchan, I felt you and Cousin Thor did not know what to do with me, and looked upon me as an incubus—an obstacle to your peace of mind! I felt he was going back to his mine, and Miss Muir meant to marry him. And here in this peaceful garden I was at the end of everything. When Cousin Thor said he wanted to talk plans, I thought I should be placed in some awful family, or have a stiff, starched chaperon. I haven't had time to think things out yet. I hardly know if I stand on my head or my heels. Do you think he really and truly means what he says? He's the sort that might sacrifice his whole life from compassion or pity on somebody. And that somebody would be me! You know him very well." But Thorold interrupted: "Do you doubt my word?" he asked her softly. And Gentian gazed at him with tender smiling eyes. "No, you couldn't tell a lie. You've done for yourself, Cousin Thor, for good or evil you have got me now. Mrs. Wharnecliffe, are you in your heart of hearts the least bit sorry for him?" "I should be, if I did not know you both very intimately. I know he will satisfy all your requirements, Gentian, and it is in your power to satisfy his." "Here we are, taking all the romance and beauty out of it, and deliberately discussing it in cold blood," said Gentian. "I shall be as bold as brass, and say it out loud: I love him, Mrs. Wharnecliffe, and he loves me. Nothing else matters, nothing. If his mine burst up to-morrow, and we had to live in two rooms on bread and cheese, I would be singing for joy in my heart." "And now we will have tea," said Mrs. Wharnecliffe, laughing, "and for the present, Gentian, bread and cheese is not your portion. May I say this, that you are a very fortunate girl. I don't think you know what I think of your Cousin Thorold."