They left the gate and again pursued the syringa alley. The sound of the Christmas bombardment drifted away. When they reached the shadow of the great bushes, he kissed her again. All the air was blue and hazy and the church bells were ringing, ringing. "I haven't any money," said Laydon. "Mother has a very little, but I've never been able, somehow, to lay by. I'll begin now, though, and then, as I told you, I expect next year to have a much better situation. Dr. ---- at ---- thinks he may get me in there. It would be delightful--a real field at last, the best of surroundings and a tolerable salary. If I were fortunate there, we could marry very soon, darling, darling! But as it is--It is wretched that Eglantine pays so little, and that there is so little recognition here of ability--no career--no opportunity! But just you wait and see--you one bright spot here!" Hagar gazed at the winding path, strewn with bronze leaves, and at the syringa bushes, later to be laden with fragrant bloom, and at the great white sycamore boughs against the pallid blue, and at the roof and chimneys of Eglantine, now apparent behind the fretwork of trees. The inner eye saw the house within, the three-years-familiar rooms, her "tower room"--and all the human life, the girls, the teachers, the servants. Bright drops came to her eyes. "I've been unhappy here, too, sometimes. But I couldn't stay three years in a place and not love something about it." "That is because you are a woman," said the lover. "With a man it is different. If a place isn't right, it isn't right.--If I had but five thousand dollars! Then we might marry in a month's time. As it is, we'll have to wait and wait and wait--" "I am going to work, too," said Hagar. "I am going to try somehow to make money." He laughed. "You dear gipsy! You just keep your beautiful, large eyes, and those dusky warm waves of hair, and your long slim fingers, and the way you hold yourself, and let 'trying to earn money' go hang! That's my part. Too many women are trying to earn money, anyhow--competing with us.--You've got just to be your beautiful self, and keep on loving me." He drew a long breath. "Jove! I can see you now, in a parlour that's our own at ----, receiving guests--famous guests, maybe, after a while; people who will come distances to see me! For I don't mean to remain unknown. I know I've got ability."