“You may think, if you like, that, overpowered, dazzled by the thought of marrying a rich man, and being out of reach of poverty, and saved from the necessity of hard and distasteful work any longer, I have decided to encourage the attentions of a man who is deeply in love with me, and who could undoubtedly enable me, if I married him, to live an easy and leisurely life. You may think, if you like, that I am quite at liberty to do this, and that it is the wisest thing I could do. You may think, too, if you please, that this rich man is not exactly the sort of man I should have chosen if I had been quite free to choose, but that, not being quite free, I was justified in encouraging, and in accepting him.” “But are you sure he is rich, and that he is not merely dependent upon the pleasure or caprice of a father who may, or may not, approve of him and intend to leave him well off?” argued poor Gerard earnestly. “Miss Davison, believe me, I wouldn’t be selfish and mean enough to say a word against this young Van Santen if I could think him worthy of you. Believe me, though I own I’m jealous of him, I wouldn’t show unworthy or despicable jealousy of him or of any man. But it has occurred to me to doubt whether he is the sort of man you ought to trust yourself with. And I should like, if I may dare, to beg you not to definitely give your promise to marry him until his father has arrived in England, and until you’ve made sure that the young ones are really going to be well off.” Miss Davison smiled faintly. “Do you want me to make sure of my bargain then, before I sign?” she asked. “Yes,” answered he steadily, “I do. I know I’m jealous: I own it. I think this Denver Van Santen is not good enough for you. But I understand your point of view, and I sympathize with you; and therefore, I say, if as I suppose, you propose to marry this man, not because you care particularly about him, but because he is well off and can make life easier for you, do not be in too great a hurry over it: make sure, before you promise, that the other side is in a situation to bring to the bargain all you expect of it. It sounds a cold-blooded way of speaking, I know, but, believe me, coldness is the last thing you need accuse me of where _you_ are concerned.” Miss Davison listened with the same air of profound and serious interest that she had given to him earlier in the evening. “You’re quite right,” she said at last. “Then whatever happens, I shall take your advice, and I shan’t definitely accept Denver until I’ve seen his father.” Gerard assented eagerly. “Yes, that’s what I meant,” he said quickly. “If old Van Santen, whom everybody seems to speak well of, should agree to the match, and if you should like him and get on well with him, then I say you might have a chance of happiness with the son; but--” He stopped. “But what?” Gerard looked up, half shyly.