"You and Jane can go away," said she, cutting him short. "I wish to have a private conversation with Noel." "For heaven's sake don't give up the money," whispered Garvington in an agonized tone when at the door. "I sold myself once to help the family," she replied in the same low voice; "but I am not so sure that I am ready to do so twice." "Quite right, dear," said Lady Garvington, patting the widow's hand. "It is better to have love than money. Besides, it only means that Freddy will have to give up eating rich dinners which don't agree with him." "Come away, you fool!" cried Freddy, exasperated, and, seizing her arm, he drew her out of the room, growling like a sick bear. Agnes closed the door, and returned to look at Lambert, who still continued to stare at the carpet with folded arms. "Well?" she demanded sharply. "Well?" he replied in the same tone, and without raising his eyes. "Is that all you have to say, Noel?" "I don't see what else I can say. Pine evidently guessed that we loved one another, although heaven knows that our affection has been innocent enough, and has taken this way to part us forever." "Will it part us forever?" "I think so. As an honorable man, and one who loves you dearly, I can't expect you to give up two millions for the sake of love in a cottage with me. It is asking too much." "Not when a woman loves a man as I love you." This time Lambert did look up, and his eyes flashed with surprise and delight. "Agnes, you don't mean to say that you would--" She cut him short by sitting down beside him and taking his hand. "I would rather live on a crust with you in the Abbot's Wood Cottage than in Park Lane a lonely woman with ample wealth." "You needn't remain lonely long," said Lambert moodily. "Pine's will does not forbid you to marry any one else." "Do I deserve that answer, Noel, after what I have just said?" "No, dear, no." He pressed her hand warmly. "But you must make some allowance for my feelings. It is right that a man should sacrifice all for a woman, but that a woman should give up everything for a man seems wrong." "Many women do, if they love truly as I do." "But, Agnes, think what people will say about me." "That will be your share of the sacrifice," she replied promptly. "If I do this, you must do that. There is no difficulty when the matter is looked on in that light. But there is a graver question to be answered." Lambert looked at her in a questioning manner and read the answer in her eyes. "You mean about the property of the family?" "Yes." Agnes heaved a sigh and shook her head. "I wish I had been born a village girl rather than the daughter of a great house. Rank has its obligations, Noel. I recognized that before, and therefore married Hubert. He was a good, kind man, and, save that I lost you, I had no reason to regret becoming his wife. But I did not think that he would have put such an insult on me." "Insult, dear?" Lambert flushed hotly.