"I shall always say, Maria, your father was harder to me than he need have been." "Yes. But the truth is, Philip, he has had more on his mind than he would speak of," she returned. "It was about----" "About, what?" queried Philip, as she stopped. "I am almost ashamed to mention it." "I shall never rest now, till you have told me." "Papa took up a notion that you were somehow concerned in those robberies which took place: his own purse, you know--and the Doctor's snuff-box--and the jewels." Philip's large eyes grew larger as he stared at Maria. "Not that I stole them? You can't mean that!" "I fear that he was afraid you did. Dr. Downes was also." Philip lay without speaking, lost in astonishment. Presently he burst into the strongest laugh his feeble state allowed. "What a joke, Maria! They could not believe such a thing of me. I am Philip Cleeve." The words imparted their own assurance. Though Maria had never needed to be assured. "Did _you_ think this?" "Oh, Philip! Don't you know me better than that?" "My dear, yes. Forgive the question. You say you will never leave me again, Maria: I bless you for that. If we could but be married here, and now, so that no adverse fate might ever more part us! Here and now!" Maria's vivid blush was the only answer. "But how could we live now that our future is marred?" continued Philip. "As Tiplady's partner, I could have ensured you a good home; but the money which was to have secured that position, the twelve hundred pounds, is gone for ever." "I have two thousand pounds that I think you have not heard of, Philip," she said in a low tone, as she hid her face. "Mrs. Page left it to me. We will pay over some of it to Mr. Tiplady, in place of that which is lost." "Maria!" "Yes," she answered. "I have been intending it ever since I knew you were getting better. Do not fret after the money, Philip. Captain Lennox is worse off----" "Hang Captain Lennox!" interjected Philip. "But for him I should never have got into trouble of any kind." "He had embarked, it is said, a great deal in this mine," added Maria. "People fancy that it is his loss in it which makes him think of giving up The Lilacs." Romantic though old Mr. Marjoram showed himself to be, it yet may have surprised him to be told that the two young people enjoying his hospitality had determined to get married as soon as possible, while Philip still lay ill and helpless--if he, the kind old gentleman, would only help them to accomplish it. "Oh ho!" said he. "Love's young dream, and all that, eh? Your parents have destined you for one another from childhood, you tell me." "That's quite true," said Philip, from his pillow.