'I was wondering how it would appeal to your father. You remember you said that you would never benefit by, or participate in, any gain made by drink, and your father has made most of his money as a brewer and distiller. I wondered how you regarded it now?' 'That is quickly settled,' he replied; 'I shall not benefit by it, of course.' 'Do you mean that?' 'Of course I mean it. Mind, I don't want it talked about,--that is a matter between my father and my own conscience, and one can't talk about such things freely.' 'Surely you are very foolish,' I said. 'Why should you not use the money which will naturally come to you?' 'I don't say I won't _use_ it,' he replied, 'but I will not benefit by it.' 'You mean, then----?' 'I mean that I was a poor man, with nothing but my pay, and that I _am_ a poor man, with nothing but my pay. Thinking as I think, and feeling as I feel, I could not become a rich man by money got in--that is, by such means.' He spoke quietly and naturally, although he seemed a little surprised by my question. 'What will your father say when he knows?' 'I think he _does_ know. He asked me whether I stood by what I said in London.' 'And you told him?' 'Of course I told him.' 'And he,--what did he say?' 'He didn't say anything.' 'Jack,' I went on, 'you must forgive me talking about this, but I only do it, because--you see, we are pals.' 'Of course we are pals. Say what you like.' 'It is all summed up in one name--Lorna.' A new light came into his eyes immediately, and I saw that his lips became tremulous. 'Yes, what of her?' 'Springfield still means to have her,' I blurted out. A curious look passed over his face, a look which I could not understand. 'Do you know,' he asked eagerly, 'if she is engaged to him?' 'I gather, that so far, there is no engagement, but I believe there is an understanding. He had obtained Sir Thomas's consent, but they were both under the impression at the time that Springfield was your father's heir. Of course, your turning up in such a way makes it a bit rough on Springfield.' 'I shall have a good deal to tell you about Springfield presently,' he said, 'but you have something in your mind. What is it?' 'It is very simple,' I replied. 'If there is no engagement between Lorna and Springfield, and if you come to her as your father's heir, you will of course be an eligible suitor. If you hold by your determination, you are just where you were. How could you ask her to marry you on the pay of a major in the Army? It would not be fair; it would not be honourable.' 'If she loves me, it would be honourable,' he said. 'How could it be honourable for you, with just a major's pay, to go to a girl reared as she has been,--a girl as attractive as she is, and who has only to hold up her finger to a man like Buller, who will own one of the finest estates in Devonshire? You have no right to drag her into poverty, even if she cared for you.'