"I refuse to allow Sibyl's name to enter into this matter," he said. "You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don't care, and I do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the meaning of _this_?" As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and then pointed to the grounds outside. "Silverbel!" she cried; "but I wrote to you and told you the place was in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot, you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other cablegram about little Sibyl?" "Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home. But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or what?" Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh. "Why, we have bought Silverbel," she cried; "you are, you must be pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then, of course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and I am so happy about it." "Rich!" he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand. "Mildred," he said slowly, "do you realize--do you at all realize the fact that the child is dying?" "Nonsense," she answered, starting back. "The child is dying," repeated Ogilvie, "and when the child dies, any motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which are considered essential to the worldly man's happiness, _goes out_. After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man, as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I now repent of my sin, and repentance means----" "What?" she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes. "Restitution," he replied; "all the restitution that lies in my power." "You--you terrify me," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "what are you talking about? Restitution! What have you to give back?"