"Oh, Guy, how unjust of both yourself and Eric. You know that is not my opinion of either of you." Guy took her slender hand in his own. "You dear old girl, you are only just a little bit lower than the angels; you have always had wings growing since you were a wee toddler. But I am going to see this thing through on my own. Jackson is an old scoundrel of course, but he never presses one very hard. I shall square him all right." Mary said no more on the subject. Both her brothers inherited the paternal obstinacy. When they had once made up their minds, nothing could move them. But she sighed a little. It would have been so much better if Guy could have got rid of this odious moneylender, and have landed in Spain with a clean sheet. He would have been free from any pecuniary worries, and, therefore, in a better mood to attend to his work. Jackson was done with, but there was another subject which she wanted to broach before this interview was ended. And it was a rather delicate one. It was some little time before she spoke again. "And how about that woman, Violet Hargrave? Are you quite clear of her? It is not fair to Isobel that you should keep up even a semblance of friendship with such an odious person." Guy laughed, but this time his laugh did not ring clear and boyish; it betrayed uneasiness. "Oh, come, Mary, you are a bit uncharitable, aren't you. Violet Hargrave is generally considered a charming, not an odious, person." His sister spoke a little sternly for her. "I don't pretend to have a man's knowledge of the world, but I have not been brought up in a nursery. I know her type, and it is one from which any pure woman, and any decent man, ought to shrink. Have you given her up?" Guy looked her squarely in the face. "Honestly, Mary, I have, just after I met Isobel. Of course, a man can't throw a woman over in a second, but I have cooled down gradually. At the present moment, I think the fascinating widow hates me." Mary rose and spoke decidedly. "I am glad to have your assurance of that. If it had not been so, I might have felt it my duty to warn Isobel. She is too sterling a girl to be played with." Her brother rose too, half resentful, half admiring. It was not the first time that Lady Mary had spoken salutary words of wisdom to him. "By Jove, Mary, you are uncompromising. Do you mean to say you would give me away to Isobel--me, your own brother?" "Of course," answered Mary firmly. "To Isobel, or any other woman, if I thought you were unworthy of her." Admiration conquered. He tucked her arm in his, as they returned to the house. "You dear old girl, you are one out of a million. But you know you are a little uncomfortable at times, and when you are inclined that way, you have a knack of making a fellow feel a bit of a worm." Mary laughed pleasantly.