"I gathered as much," he replied gravely. "Father has been gambling on the Stock Exchange—he has lost everything. Earlsmead, that has been centuries in the family; and not only that—it is not merely ruin—it is disgrace," and as she spoke, Lola put her hands over her eyes. "Disgrace," repeated Gascoigne. "It is impossible." "It is not really father's doing," she sobbed. "He got mixed up with shady people, and lent them his good name—and now it is smirched, or will be—the catastrophe is impending—the only door of escape is—Mr. Waldershare. He will advance money—he will stifle scandal—he is enormously rich——" "And the reason for his liberality?" demanded Philip in a harsh key. "Is here," replied Lola, laying her hand on her breast. "I marry him to save our good name—and Earlsmead." "In short, you sell yourself for your family?" he cried. "I think you might say—sacrifice myself—for my family," she answered softly, and her eyes were eloquent. "And _I_ am also to be sacrificed?" "Always remember that you are free—whilst I am bound—for life." "And you are prepared to throw me over, to marry a man old enough to be your father?" he questioned. "Yes; but, after all, what is age! and"——(home-thrust) "your own mother—dear Aunt Venetia—did the same." Philip now began to pace the room, whilst Lola looked furtively at the clock. At last he came to a halt, and said: "What does your mother say?" "Nothing, poor dear, for she _knows_. The boys, Edgar and Billy, are simply furious with me. They have not seen the family skeleton—they think I am doing this—because—Mr. Waldershare is fabulously rich—and they say I have no more heart than a sea anemone. Bill declares that I was always greedy, and took more than my share of jam and the pony, and neither of them will come to the wedding. They will never forgive me, and neither will you——" and Lola buried her face in a cushion, and wept—that is to say, drew long, gasping sighs. "Listen to me, Lola," said her lover, authoritatively; "I have a suggestion to make." She looked up quickly, and dried her eyes with a scrap of lace. "My idea is not as mad as it sounds. I have ten thousand pounds in the funds. It is my own, and yours. Let us pay your father's most pressing claims with this—always remember that it is yours as much as mine. I will leave the service, and we will all go to New Zealand, you and I—your father and mother—and the boys, if they like?" Lola sat erect, and stared at him fixedly and gasped; but he was too full of his subject, and too profoundly in earnest, to notice her expression. "You see," he resumed, "I am a really fair practical engineer, and I'll build our quarters; your father and I can farm. There is a splendid breed of horses, a fine climate, a fine country; we will make a fresh start in life; we shall all be together—what do you say, Lola? If you agree, I'll set about the move to-day," and he confronted her eagerly.