"You do not understand, Leo. I mean that I think he intends to ask me to be his wife. Now don't be angry, for I am not sure if he will. It is only a kind of instinct I have that such is his intention." Haverleigh, confident in his good looks and virile strength, laughed good-humouredly. "I am not angry, my dear. The idea of that wretched little creature thinking of marriage!" "Who is uncharitable now, Mr Haverleigh?" The young man laughed. "Fairly hit," he said; "but really, Sybil, I don't think you need trouble about Hale. No man of his build and weakness would insult a woman by asking her hand in marriage. He is a queer little creature, but for all his cross-grained temper his heart is in the right place. I am sorry for him, and I feel his kindness in offering to help me. To be sure he is well off, but the kindness is all the same." "And what about his sister? She is in love with you." "So Mrs Gabriel says," responded Leo, coolly. "But that is all nonsense--much the same as your suspicions of Hale. Why, the girl never opens her mouth to me; she only looks and looks." "With her soul in her eyes!" "It must be a dull soul then, for I see no gleam in those eyes of hers." "You are most unsuspicious, Leo," said Sybil at length. "I have a kind of feeling that we are on the eve of some trouble. Have you noticed that until we found out this quiet spot Mrs Gabriel or Sir Frank and his sister always joined us?" "I noticed that, but it meant nothing." Leo paused and then continued, "I know that my mother wants me to marry Edith, but I told her plainly that I would not, and she has agreed to let me have my own way." "That is not like her," said Sybil, after a pause. "She always wants to have _her_ own way." "I think she is beginning to find me one too many for her, my love. It is this way, Sybil. I told her that if she went on treating me so badly I would enlist. That frightened her, and she has been kinder since." "I don't trust her, no more than I do Sir Frank. Are you going to take this money?" "As a loan I am, but I hope to pay it back." "How are you going to manage?" "Oh, Pratt has promised to make it right with my mother. He has a wonderful influence with her. You know he has been her friend for years, and she has great reliance on his judgment. I told him all my trouble, and he has promised to help me. It is not the first time he has done so, Sybil. Several times last year he lent me money." "I know he is a kind man," said Sybil; "but, Leo, I do wish you--"