And he pressed his spotless handkerchief to his eyes. Jack's ardor cooled at once, and the old disgust and suspicion rose; but he choked them down again, and sat down. "Not a word more," said Stephen, with a gulp, as if he were swallowing a flood of tears. "I have long, long felt your coldness and distrust, my dear Jack, but I vowed to live it down, and prove to you that you have wronged me. Believe me that my good fortune--my unexpected fortune--was quite imbittered to me by the thought that you would misjudge me." Jack pulled at his cigar grimly. Stephen was on the wrong track, and he saw it, and hastened to change it. "But now, my dear Jack, we shall understand each other. You will believe me that I have your welfare deeply at heart. Who else have I to think of--except my mother, my dear mother? And we may conclude that our little negotiation as suitor and guardian is ended. Eh, Jack? You shall have the appointment and Una--lucky fellow that you are--and I shall be rewarded by seeing you happy." Jack nodded. The mention of Una had filled him with gratitude. He could not forget that he owed her in two ways to Stephen. "You are a good fellow, Stephen," he said, "and you deserve _your_ luck. After all, you'll make a better master of Hurst than I should. You'll take care of it." Stephen sighed. He was going to gloat again. "I don't know. I wish to do my duty. It is an immense sum of money, Jack; immense." Jack nodded again. "I'm glad of it," he said, easily. "I don't envy you. I did once, and not very long ago. But I rank Una above the Hurst even, and if I have her, you are welcome to the Hurst." Stephen winced, and looked at him from the corners of his eyes. Was there any significance in the speech? But Jack's face was open and frank, as usual. "That's a bargain," said Stephen, laughing. Jack thought a moment. "But what about Mr. Rolfe?" he said, dubiously. "Leave him to me," said Stephen, confidently. "I will manage him. And, by the way, I think for the present that we had better keep our little engagement quiet. You understand? He had better hear it from my lips, and--you quite see, Jack?" Jack didn't quite see. He would have preferred to go to Gideon Rolfe and have the matter out--fight it out if need be--but he was, so to speak, in Stephen's hands. "Very well," he said. "And now have another cigar, my dear Jack, you've eaten that one." But Jack was anxious to go. He wanted to be alone to think over this strange interview, and realize that Una was his. "Well, if you will go," said Stephen, reluctantly; "but mind, I shall expect you to make this your second home." Jack glanced round rather dubiously. "And of course we shall see you at the Square?" This invitation Jack accepted heartily, and once more he wrung Stephen's hand. "Good-night, good-night, my dear Jack," said Stephen, and he took a candle from the table to light him down the stairs, and smiled till every tooth in his head showed like a grave-stone.