hen he doubted the
significance of her words.

"You have already half my income," he said, slowly.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"A thousand a year! What can one do on that? To live decently in town one
needs much more."

"It is as much as I can offer," he remarked, stiffly.

"Then you should earn money," she declared. "It's easy enough for men
with brains. Go back into politics instead of idling your time away down
in Blakely. I mean it! I've no patience with men who have a right to a
place in the world which they won't fill."

"Surely," he remonstrated, "I may be allowed to choose the manner of my
life!"

"If you can afford to--yes," she answered. "But I want one of two things.
The first seems to scare you to death even to think of. The second is
more money--a good deal more money."

"But," he protested, "even if I did as you suggested, and went back into
politics, it would be some time, if ever, before I should be any better
off."

"I will wait until that time comes," she answered, "provided that when it
does, you share with me."

Then Mannering understood.

"Upon my word," he exclaimed, "you are an apt conspirator indeed. All
this time you have been fooling me. I even fancied--bah! How much is
Borrowdean giving you for this?"

"Nothing at all," she answered, coolly. "It is my own sincere desire
for your welfare which has prompted all that I have said to you. I am
ambitious for you, Lawrence. I should like to see you Prime Minister.
I am sure you could be if you tried. You are letting your talents rust,
and I don't approve of it!"

The faint note of mockery in her tone was clearly apparent. Mannering
found it hard to answer her calmly.

"Come," he said, "put it into plain words. What does it mean? What do you
want?"

"Sir Leslie tells me," she said, raising her eyes and looking him in the
face, "that his party is prepared to find you a safe seat to-morrow. I
want you to give up your hermit's life and accept it."

"And the alternative?"

"You have it already before you. Your reception of it was not, I must
admit, altogether flattering."

"I am allowed," he said, "some short space of time for consideration?"

"Until to-morrow, if you wish," she answered. "I imagine you know pretty
well what you mean to do."

He picked up his hat and turned towards the door.

"Yes," he said, "I suppose I do!"

BOOK II

CHAPTER I

BORROWDEAN MAKES A BARGAIN

Borrowdean sank into the chair