"To-morrow morning." "So soon?" she said, with a start. "Hang it, Eustace, you might have given us longer notice," remarked Guy, in a displeased tone of voice. "_Cui bono?_" said Gartney, listlessly. "Long leave-takings are a mistake, I think--the opposite of 'linked sweetness long drawn out.' I always like to come and go quickly, so I'll say goodbye to-night, and be off the first thing in the morning." Neither Guy nor his wife made any further remark, as they both felt dimly that it would be happier for Eustace to go away as soon as possible. It was not ingratitude, it was not a desire to lose his company, but what he had said to the wife, and what he had said to the husband, recurred to both their memories, and they silently acquiesced in his decision. "Before I go," said Eustace, after a pause, "there is one thing I wish to say. Can I speak to you both without offence?" "Certainly," replied Guy, wondering what was coming. "We both owe you more than we can ever repay." "You can repay it easily," said Gartney, quickly, "by accepting the proposition I am about to make." "Let us hear what it is first," observed Alizon, looking up for a moment with a faint smile on her lips. "It will not take long to explain," answered Gartney, in a matter-of-fact tone. "You know I am rich enough to indulge all my whims and fancies, so this new access of wealth from Aunt Jelly, is absolutely useless to me. It ought to have been left to Guy, and had I spoken to Aunt Jelly before she died, no doubt I would have made her see this. As it is, however, it has been left to me, and I do not want it. Guy, however, does so. I wish to make him a free gift of all the property before leaving for Africa." "No," said Guy resolutely, "I will not take a penny." "Why not?" "Because it was left to you. I do not want to rob you." "It's not a question of robbery," said Eustace, coolly, "if the money was of any use to me, I'd keep it. But it is not. I do not even know that I would touch it, so it's far better to be employed by you than lying idle in my bank. What do you say, Alizon?" She flushed painfully. "What can I say?" "That you will persuade this obstinate husband of yours to take the money." "But suppose he won't accept?" "Which is his firm intention," said Guy, quickly. "In that case," remarked Eustace grimly, "I shall simply hand it over to the most convenient charity, say 'The Society for the Suppression of Critics,' or 'The Fund for Converted Publishers'--but keep it, I will not." "You're talking nonsense," cried Guy, impatiently. "The sober truth, I assure you." There was silence for a few moments, and at last the silence was broken by Guy. "If I thought you were in earnest----" he began slowly. "Dead earnest," said Eustace. "Then I suppose it will be best to accept your Quixotic offer." "I'm glad you look at it in such a sensible light," retorted Gartney, with an air of great relief. "You agree with Guy, Alizon?"