He nodded, watching a tug towing a bark out through the Gate, and she told him what she had heard of Fleurette’s story that morning. It was no slight relief to him to think that he had helped some one, though his assistance had been based upon deceit. "Don’t you see?" she said. "Don’t you understand how women love? It makes no difference how poor or how dishonored a man may be, if she loves him her happiness must be with him." "Oh, a physical deformity is easy enough to forget. But how about a moral one? You’ll be the wife of an outcast." "If you refused to accept my love, if you left me, now, you would be inflicting a far greater pain than any gossip could ever give me." "The mere problem of living appals me," he went on gloomily. "I would never think twice of it, if I were alone. But you know what a coward marriage makes of one." She laughed in his face. "I’ll be your first patient, Doctor Granthope, and I’ll pay you well!" "If there was some way of getting that money of Madam Grant’s. I’ve never even thought of trying to claim it, but perhaps I might go up to Stockton and inquire about it. Of course, there’s no fear of being accused of stealing it, now. But even if I had it, I don’t know whether or not it would be right to use it myself." "You might at least borrow it for a while, but for my own part I’m convinced that it’s yours. There’s no reason why the bank should have the use of it for nothing. I wish we could clear up that matter of Madam Grant." They set out again, she with a buoyant tread, willowy and strong. It was not till her muscles relaxed that her characteristic, dreamy languor was apparent, and this trait was slowly disappearing under the influence of the new interest in her life. It was as if she had found, now, what she, in her former quiescent moods, had been watching and waiting for, and Granthope’s presence stimulated her with energy. She was almost coquettish with him at times, now, the mood alternating with a noble frankness, the boldness of a gambler who has cast all hardily upon a single stroke. She was not afraid of being seen with him. She gave him herself in every word and glance. A casual observer could have read her fondness for him.