"To-morrow: that's why I wanted to talk to you to-day. You see, your money is in two parts, so to speak. One lot is tied up in such a way that it can't be touched until poor Uncle Jimmy's death is actually proved." Joan's blue-grey eyes were troubled. "Hughie," she said, "is there _any_ hope? I still like to think so." Hughie shook his head. "Not much," he said. "In fact, none. It is known that he went with that crack-brained expedition of Hymack's up the Congo,--to study the Rubber Question on the spot,--and the last letter he sent home said that he was suffering from black-water fever, and it is also known that the expedition came back without him. And--all that was two years ago, Joey." Joan nodded her head submissively. "Poor Uncle Jimmy!" she said softly. "Still," continued Hughie stoutly, "you never know. I have sent a man out to make inquiries, and if he fails, perhaps I shall go myself. But until we learn something definite the will can't be proved. However, he left me very full instructions what to do in case he did not come back, so I must carry them out. There is plenty for you to go on with. I shall run up to town to-morrow, and when I come back I'll let you know how much it is, and how much a year I can allow you." Miss Gaymer clasped her hands and sighed happily. "We _will_ have a time, Hughie!" she said. "I'll stand treat." "Thank you," said Hughie gravely. There was a long silence. Hughie, suddenly ill at ease,--he had arrived at Part Two of his morning's syllabus,--made fatuous attempts to roll a cigarette. His ward sat with a rapt expression in her widely-opened eyes, mentally visualising a series of charitable enterprises (ranging from a turquoise pendant for Mildred Leroy to a new cap for the cook) made feasible by the sudden prospect of wealth. Presently Hughie cleared his throat in a heart-rending manner, and said, in what he afterwards admitted to himself was entirely the wrong sort of voice,-- "Joey, I think you and I had better marry one another." Miss Gaymer, who was more used to this sort of thing than her companion, turned and eyed him calmly. "And why?" she asked. There was only one possible answer to this question, and Hughie should have given it with the full strength of his heart and soul and body. But--well, reserve is a curious and paralysing thing. All he said was,-- "I think it would be very suitable; don't you?" "For you or for me?" inquired Miss Gaymer. "For both of us," replied Hughie. "No--for me!" he added, his habitual modesty getting the better of him. "In what way?" continued Miss Gaymer, with unnatural calm. "Well--Uncle Jimmy was very keen about it," said Hughie desperately. "You're a dutiful nephew, Hughie," observed Joan approvingly. "And then," continued the suitor, "as I have been made your guardian, and all that, I think I am in a position to take care of you, and look after your money, and so on."