"No, but _I_ care about my honour!" cried Lashmar. "If I had won the election, all would have been different; my career would have begun. Do you know what I should have done in that case? I should have come to you, and have said: 'I am a Member of Parliament. It is to you that I owe this, more than to anyone else. Will you do yet more for me? Will you be my companion in the life upon which I am entering--share all my hopes--help me to conquer?'--_That_ is what I meant to do. But I am beaten, and I can only ask you to have patience with your miserable debtor." He let his face fall onto the head of the sofa, and shook with emotion. There was a short silence, then Iris, her cheeks flushing, lightly touched his hair. At once he looked up, gazed into her face. "What! You still believe in me? Enough for _that_?" "Yes," replied Iris, her eyes down, and her bosom fluttering. "Enough for that." "Ah! But be careful--think!" He looked at her with impressive sadness. "Your friends will tell you that you are marrying a penniless adventurer. Have you the courage to face all that kind of thing?" "I know you better than my friends do," replied Iris, taking in both her own the hand he held to her. "My fear," she added, again dropping her eyes and fluttering, "is that you will some day repent." "Never! Never! It would be the blackest ingratitude!" He spoke so fervently that the freckled face became rosy with joy. It was so near to his, that the man in him claimed warmer tribute, and Iris grew rosier still. "Haven't you always loved me a little?" she whispered. "If I had only known it!" answered Lashmar, the victor's smile softened with self-reproach. "My ambition has much to answer for. Forgive me, Iris." "There's something else I must say, dear," she murmured. "After all, I have so little--and there is Len, you know--" "Why, of course. Do you imagine I should wish to rob him?" "No, no, no!" she panted. "But it is such a small income, after all. I'm afraid we ought to--to be careful, at first--" "Of course we must. We shall live as simply as possible. And then, you mustn't suppose that I shall never earn money. It's only waiting for one's opportunity." A silence fell between them. Lashmar's amorous countenance had an under-note of thoughtfulness; Iris, smiling blissfully, none the less reflected. "What are you thinking of?" he asked, gently. "Only how happy I am. I haven't the slightest fear. I know you have great things before you. Of course we must make use of our friends. May I write to Mrs. Toplady, and tell her?" She spoke without looking at him, and so was spared the interpretation of muscular twitches. "Certainly. Do you know whether she is still in London?" "I don't know, but probably not. Don't you think she may be very useful to us? I have always found her very nice and kind, and she knows such hosts of people."