Germaine pulled himself together. "You'll think I've been a fool," he exclaimed abruptly,--he had to say something in answer to that look,--"and so I have. But you know--at least you don't know, luckily for you--what it's like to be mixed up with a lot of fellows who are all richer than one is oneself;" and then in a very different tone, one in which his sister felt the ring of truth, "Are you sure Dick won't know, Fanny? I don't want Dick to know." "Of course he won't know," Fanny smiled. "You don't suppose I tell Dick everything?" Oliver stared at his sister. He was rather shocked by her admission; till to-day he had thought that all husbands and wives who loved one another told each other everything; and yet, here was Fanny, who hadn't a thought in the world beyond Dick, the children, the dogs--and, and, yes, her brother---- "It's none of Dick's business what I choose to do with my own money--not that he'd mind." "I think of spreading the re-payment over five years." "That would be rather too soon," she said; and added, looking away as she spoke, "I don't think it would be fair to Bella." Oliver reddened, a man's dusky unbecoming blush. "Bella's been good about it," he said briefly. "She said herself that we should have to go and live in the country. Still, let's make it seven years. I say, Fanny, you _are_ a brick," and sitting down by the table, Oliver Germaine broke into hard, painful sobs. Fanny got up off the sofa. She felt rather shy. "Don't be so worried," she said. "Bella's a very good sort, and awfully fond of you, old boy. She'll like the country better than you think. Her looks will last twice as long there, and, and--if I were you, Oliver--you and Bella I mean," Fanny got rather mixed, and very red--"well, I'd try and have a baby. Bella would look awfully sweet with a baby. And a baby's no trouble in the country--less trouble than a puppy!" "Yes, that's true," he said, raising his head, and feeling vaguely comforted. His sister Fanny had a lot of sense. Oliver had always known that. IV ACCORDING TO MEREDITH "Certainly, however, one day these present conditions of marriage will be changed. Marriage will be allowed for a certain period, say ten years."--Mr. GEORGE MEREDITH in the _Daily Mail_ of September 24th, 1904. "Give you some heads? My dear fellow, there need be no question of heads! This is to be a model will. You need simply put down, in as few words as are legally permissible--I know nothing of such things--that I leave all of which I die possessed to my wife." Philip Dering threw his head back, and gave the man to whom he was speaking, and opposite to whom he was standing, a confident smiling glance. Then he turned and walked quickly over to the narrow, old-fashioned, balconied window which, commanding the wide wind-blown expanse of Abingdon Street, exactly faced the great cavity formed by the arch of the Victoria Tower.