I should not worry my head, for I have never had any
ambition to be a rich man; and the mater has her private income--I need
not be anxious about her. The change would fall heaviest on you, and it
is of you I think. I meant to give you a home worthy of yourself, with
every luxury and comfort, but that may not be possible now. Can you
forgive me, dear, for bringing all this trouble upon you?"

He looked wistfully into the lovely face, and Lilias pressed her lips
together, staring fixedly at the ground. At that moment she could not
bring herself to say that she forgave him, or to express any
complaisance at the thought of the future. Imagination ran riot, and
she saw as in a picture a little house in a smoky manufacturing town,
and shrank with distaste from its narrow walls and meagre furnishings.
Yes, indeed! Ned might well declare that she was the greatest sufferer,
and it was only right that he should pity her. If this breakdown had
happened three months before, her parents would not have consented to
her engagement, and it should have been his duty to be well assured of
his position before involving another, as she was now involved. The
swelling of resentment grew so strong, that, against her better
judgment, it forced itself into speech.

"You seem fated to misfortune! It follows you wherever you go. But
this cannot all have sprung up within the last two months. You must
have known something about it in March,--in April,--before you spoke to
me!"

From the flash in Ned's eyes she feared that he was about to make some
hot reply, but he checked himself, and answered with gentle forbearance.
Only, if she had had eyes to see it, the shadow had fallen deeper than
ever over his face, and his shoulders bent, as if an additional burden
had fallen upon them.

"No, Lilias, I knew nothing! I would never have proposed to you if I
had not honestly believed in my good prospects. The difficulty has
arisen since then; but don't be afraid, I shall not urge you to any
sacrifices on my behalf. I will work hard, and you shall stay at home
until I can give you all you desire. I will not ask you to share a
poverty which you dread so much."

"I wouldn't mind it for myself. It is of you I think!" murmured Lilias
sweetly. "I should love nothing so much as to help you, Ned, but I am
such a useless little thing that I should only be a drag. If it had
been Maud, it would have been different. Maud is cut out for a poor