re finer even than I thought you. I am not worthy to ask you
what I had in my mind to ask you; but there is no man in God's universe
who would prize you as I do. I may be a poor man before sundown. If
that happens, though, I shall remember the place where I had the biggest
moment of my life, and the woman who made that moment possible."

Now she also rose. There was a brave high look in her face; but her
voice shook a little as she said: "You have never been a coward, why be
a coward now?"

Smiling, he slowly answered: "I wouldn't if I were sure about my
dollars."

She did not reply, but glanced down, not with coquetry, but because she
could not stand the furnace of his eyes.

"You said a moment ago," she ventured, "that you have had one big moment
in your life. Oughtn't it to bring you good fortune?"

"It will--it will," he said, reaching his hand towards hers.

"No, no," she rejoined archly. "I am going. Please do not follow me."
Then, over her shoulder, as she left him: "If you have luck, I shall
want a subscription for my hospital."

"As many thousands as you like," he answered: then, as she sped away: "I
will have her, and the millions too!" adding reminiscently: "Yes, Lady
Lawless, this is my biggest deal."

He tramped to the stables, asked for and got a horse, and rode away to
the railway station. It was dinner time when he got back. He came down
to dinner late, apologising to Lady Lawless as he did so. Glancing
across the table at Mr. Pride, he saw a peculiar excited look in the
young man's face.

"The baby fool!" he said to himself. "He's getting into mischief. I'll
startle him. If he knows that an army of his dollars is playing at
fox-and-geese, he'll not make eyes at Lady Lawless this way--little
ass."

Lady Lawless appeared oblivious of the young man's devotional exercises.
She was engaged on a more congenial theme. In spite of Miss Raglan's
excellent acting, she saw that something had occurred. Mr. Vandewaters
was much the same as usual, save that his voice had an added ring. She
was not sure that all was right; but she was determined to know. Sir
Duke was amused generally. He led a pretty by-play with Mrs. Gregory
Thorne, of whom he asked the details of the day, much to the
confusion, not admirably hid, of Mr. Pride; lamenting now and then Mr.
Vandewaters's absence from the shooting.

Mr. Vandewaters was cool enough. He said that he had been playing at
nine-pins with railways, which was good