"I may be without pity for humanity," he said, "but humanity's had a good many dollars out of my pocket. Do you know how much humanity I employ at Charleston, I wonder? Well, all told, I dare say there are some nine thousand hands, all eating and drinking at the expense of the man whom nothing touches in spirit. When I'm dead, maybe I'll write as good an epitaph as your friends who blow other people's trumpets and give their money for the archangels who don't exist. Anyway, I'll let the record stand, and as to this temple of yours, I'll build it all right, and you shall have it as a wedding present. Can I say fairer than that?" She looked up quickly, her face flushed. "Why do you speak of a wedding present?" "Because I must make haste to do what I ought to have done long ago, and congratulate you--of course, I did not know." She laughed rather hardly. Very wonderful castles were falling all about her, and a woman's chagrin did not help her. "We were both very ignorant," she said helplessly. He watched her closely. "A very old friend, Mr. Lassett, isn't he?" "I have known him all my life." "Ah, that is the sure way of knowing him better. Did I hear he was a cricketer? I thought he said something of the kind." "He is one of the greatest cricketers England has had. Anything else?" "Why, no; well, I congratulate you. You'll be married, I suppose, before we meet again." She was surprised at this. "Are you not coming to see Maryska?" "When she asks for me, yes; but I know the sex. She'll have forgotten my name in a month's time; it is the privilege of women." "And in that case----" "Oh," he said, "I shall be in America building my temple. It's steel mostly, and butters a good deal of humanity's bread." She was very much perplexed. "Maryska will never like that. I am sure she will be very unhappy without you." "I don't agree," he said, and bade her listen. The sound of young voices came up to them from the cabin. Harry Lassett was talking to Maryska, and when she answered him, there was a little ripple of girlish laughter, which seemed to say that she had found a friend. "I don't agree," Faber repeated, and then with some sternness, he added: "Mr. Lassett is teaching her cricket, I suppose. Well, that's a game I'd rather she didn't learn!" CHAPTER VI GOODWILL TOWARD MEN I