"Ah, my dear, I don't know it! Remember that dreadful duel! And how can you tell that he doesn't want you now for your money? He has none of his own, and you have a great fortune that he could squander as he liked. Everyone will say that it was for the sake of your money." "It would sooner have been that the money would have kept him from me," said Rachel softly. "Once I was afraid of _that_. But afterwards I was ashamed that I could have any fears. We understand each other better. Aunt Elizabeth, Beatrice knows that he is good--Beatrice believes in him--and my dear Graham gave me leave to make him happy. Won't you consent to it, too?" "Well, if poor Graham gave you leave it is not for me to interfere, I suppose. But you _won't_ let anyone know you are engaged so soon?" "It need only be known to ourselves, auntie." "And you'll promise me you won't get married again _under_ the year, at the very earliest?" "Yes, dear Aunt Elizabeth, I will promise you that. If I can go and stay at Adelonga for a little, and take Alfy----" "Is he down at the Digbys?" "Yes, auntie." "Perhaps that will be the best plan," said Mrs. Hardy, sighing. "It is a quiet place, and out of the way, if only Lucilla doesn't gossip about it." CHAPTER XI. CONCLUSION. Mrs. Thornley was a little scandalised like her mother, at first, not by Rachel's desire to marry again--for that she should do so, as a rich young widow of twenty-five, "left" by a husband just forty years her senior, was generally anticipated as a matter of course--but by the too early announcement of those wishes and intentions which conventional decorum forbade a woman to dream of until "the year" was up. Very speedily, however, she forgot to be shocked by anything of this kind, and devoted herself ardently to the furtherance of her cousin's happiness. She had had Mr. Dalrymple at Adelonga after his accident, and had nursed him for about a month of his convalescence; and since that time both she and John had had a strong feeling of friendship for him, not much less than that which they had always had for their favourite, Mrs. Digby. They had condoned all the errors of his earlier years (even the great duel, which Mr. Gordon had assured them was the worst episode in a reckless but not dishonourable career, and was in itself unstained by any mean or vicious motives), and they had proved the sincerity of their respect and regard for him by allowing their son Bruce to "chum" with him in Queensland. And now, being put in possession of all the facts relating to his and Rachel's love affairs, Lucilla entered eagerly into the arrangements which Rachel herself, without a blush of shame, suggested for bringing the long-parted lovers together again.