Ruby smiled. She sat staring at the money with hard, dry eyes. "It was rather stupid to bring so much gold perhaps," she said in an unsteady voice. "But I thought you could pay some of your bills with it. And—you are so careless. You might lose notes just as you lost that cheque yesterday." She picked up the crisp bundle of notes on the table. "I’m going to take charge of these, and later on pay them into your bank. So that when you return from Devonshire, you’ll find quite a nice little nest-egg.... Now, give me a cup of tea, and then I’ll pack for you. You’ve only got about three hours." It did not take Ruby long to pack. Rupert watched her and gave instructions as to what he would take, but to which, woman like, she paid no attention. "I’ve got lots of old clothes at the farm," Rupert said. "We shall spend all our time fishing and shooting. Gad! I’ll take old Despard down our tin-mine. Probably, it’s little better than a swimming-bath now!" Rupert was in high spirits. Ruby encouraged him to talk, and smiled as she listened. "Is Mr. Despard going down with you?" she asked. Rupert nodded. "Then you won’t mind if I don’t see you off at Paddington?" She glanced at the watch on her wrist. "I’ve got an appointment at half-past one, so it would be difficult anyway." "You don’t like Despard, do you?" Rupert said; "yet he’s very fond of you." "Yes, I know he is. I wish he wasn’t." But Rupert only pinched her cheek playfully. He did not understand. Ruby wanted to tell him that Despard had made love to her, to put him on his guard, but she was afraid to speak more clearly. She did not want to make him jealous, and she was afraid lest the two men should quarrel. So no more was said. They bade one another good-bye in the little sitting-room where so many happy hours had been spent—and where such great events had happened. "I shall not be away more than a week or two," Rupert said as he kissed her. "I suppose you will be in town all the summer?" "Probably," she answered evasively. "Anyway, I shall be here when you return. Enjoy yourself and don’t worry." She kissed him again and again, clinging tightly to him, unable to tear herself away now that the hour had come. "Why, there are tears on your cheek!" Rupert whispered, brushing them away. "You mustn’t be sad: our future never looked so rosy. Look here, I shall tell my father I’m engaged to be married. I didn’t mean to do so until I’d passed my examination, but it’s only fair to you. And we can afford to get married now! You’ve got those notes safely?" She nodded, and smiled through her tears. "I can pay them into the bank to-morrow." And then, giving him a final embrace, she hurried away. Rupert stood at the front door and watched her out of sight. He wondered why she did not turn round and wave him farewell again as she always had when they parted.