"The Watertons were asking me about her. And the Bevans. I fancy she will get several engagements. Poor girl, I hope she will." Sir Philip threw away the end of his cigarette, and got up rather abruptly, Lady Ashley thought. Without a word he began to pace up and down the terrace, and finally, turning his back on her, he stared at the garden and the distant view, now faintly illumined by a rising moon, as if he had forgotten his mother's very existence. Lady Ashley was surprised. He usually treated her with such marked distinction that to appear for a moment unconscious of her presence was almost a slight. She was too dignified, however, to try to recall his attention, and she waited quietly until her son turned round again and suddenly faced her with an air of calm determination. "Mother," he said, "I have something important to say." "Well, Philip?" "You have often said that you wanted me to marry." "Yes, dearest, I do wish it." "I also see the expediency of marriage. The woman whom I loved, who seemed to us as suitable as she is lovely, will not marry me. What shall I look for in my second choice? Character rather than fortune, health rather than beauty. This seems to me the wiser way." "And love rather than expediency," said his mother quickly. "Ah!" he drew a long breath. "But we can't always have love. The other requisites are perhaps more easily found." "Have you found them, Philip?" The mother's voice quivered as she asked the question. He did not answer it immediately--he stood looking at the ground for some little time. "My mind is made up," he said at last, slowly and quietly; "I know what I want, and I think that I have found it. Mother, I am going to ask Miss Colwyn to be my wife." If a thunderbolt had fallen at her feet, Lady Ashley could not have been more amazed. She sat silent, rigid, incapable of a reply. "I have seen something of her, and I have heard more," her son went on, soberly. "She is of sterling worth. She has intellect, character, affection: what can we want more? She is attractive, if not exactly beautiful, and she is good--thoroughly good and true." "But her connections, Philip--her relations," gasped Lady Ashley. "It will be easy enough to do something for them. Of course they will have to be provided for--away from Beaminster, if possible. She is an orphan, remember: these are only her half sisters and brothers." "There is the dreadful stepmother!" "I think we can manage her. These points do not concern the main issue, mother. Will you receive her as your daughter if I bring Janetta Colwyn here as my wife?" Lady Ashley had put her handkerchief to her eyes. "I will do anything to please you, Philip," she said, almost inaudibly; "but I cannot pretend that this is anything but a disappointment."