"Then I am satisfied. I shall not keep you from happiness." With a quiet movement she bent forward and kissed the soft hair above Nance's forehead. After this seal of love, both were silent for a minute or two; then Nance spoke again, her lashes lowered, her fingers twisted tightly about her sister's. "Clo, doesn't it seem wonderful that he should care for me--he, who is so bright and clever and rich? But I've been lucky in everything, haven't I? I haven't liked to say it before, but wasn't it awfully kind--awfully good of James----?" Clodagh half withdrew her hand. In the surprising news that Nance had given her, she had forgotten the confession she had still to make. "Clo, wasn't it awfully kind of him?" Clodagh did not answer at once; and when she did so, her voice was strained. "--To leave you that money? That thousand pounds?" "Yes; the thousand pounds. Clo, you don't know the dozens and dozens of times it has made me happy to think of that since--since Pierce has cared for me. It isn't that I like money for itself; but, when one is horribly poor, one is sensitive about marrying a millionaire. I mean, you know----" Again her fingers clung to her sister's. "Yes?" "One feels that one would like to come to him with everything that--well--that his sister would have, if she married. It's very silly, of course. Clodagh, do I seem very silly?" At any other time, Clodagh would have smiled at the ingenuousness of the words; but now some feeling within herself banished amusement. "What is it, darling?" she asked. "There's something you are trying to say." Nance looked up into her face. "Clo, it's all this stupid pride. Of course Pierce and Daisy and Mrs. Estcoit know that I have nothing, except my share in Orristown--which, of course, _is_ nothing. And I know that for all the rest of my life I shall be dependent on Pierce for everything. But it's just because of that, that I want to come to him with all the things--the clothes and things--that other girls have. Oh, I know it's hateful of me--it's weak and vain." Clodagh pressed her hand suddenly. "No, darling! I understand." "You do? Oh, Clo! dear Clo! Then you know what the thousand pounds seems like. A thousand pounds all my own! Money of my own to buy beautiful things with--things like Daisy's--things like yours! I, who have never had a penny that really belonged to me! And Clodagh, may I have it soon? That's what I want to say. May I have it soon? I won't spend it all, of course--not half--nor quarter----" She laughed. "But may I have it soon? It--it would be heaven!" With a swift, involuntary movement, Clodagh freed her hand. "Clo, I have said too much! I have asked too much!" "No, darling! No! No!" "Then I've tired you? Clo, you're tired!" She caught Clodagh's hand again. "And _you_ wanted to tell _me_ something. Oh, I've been selfish! Won't you forgive me, and say it now?"