ncied yourself
in love. It was just a creature of your own fancy. You are such a
kind-hearted person really, and you ought to be happy. Can't you
untwine all those sentimental fancies of yours and find some really
nice, human girl with whom to bedeck them? There are so many women in
the world, Jacob Pratt, who would like to have you for a husband,
apart from your money."

"If it weren't for the money--" Jacob began sadly.

She interrupted him with a little peal of laughter.

"Faithless!" she exclaimed. "I can see that you have some one in your
mind already. Don't think too much about your wealth. I am a very
ordinary sort of girl, you know, and it didn't make any difference to
me. Maurice hasn't as many hundreds a year as you have thousands, but
I am quite content. Your money may make marriage more possible with a
girl who has been extravagantly brought up, but that needn't prevent
her really caring for you. So please cheer up, Mr. Jacob Pratt, and
let us all be friends."

They turned back towards the others. The explanation between Lord
Felixstowe and his sister's quondam fiance had been delayed by the
intervention of the Captain, who had paused on his daily promenade to
say a few words. Felixstowe was just then, however, undertaking his
obvious duty.

"Seems to me, young fellow," he said, addressing Penhaven, "that a few
words of explanation are due between us two."

"You needn't come the heavy brother," the latter replied. "Your sister
and I broke our engagement mutually, some time ago. I can assure you,
and she will tell you the same, that her feelings towards me have
changed far more completely even than mine towards her."

"Well, I'm jiggered!" Lord Felixstowe exclaimed.

"Where did you and Captain Penhaven meet?" Jacob asked miserably.

"I used to go in, as you know, and play Lady Mary's accompaniments,"
Sybil explained. "Captain Penhaven was often there and used to take me
home sometimes. From my own observation," she went on, "I can confirm
what Maurice has just said about the relations between Lady Mary and
himself. For some reason or other she became absolutely indifferent to
him about that time."

"So, according to you two, nobody's got a grievance," Felixstowe
observed. "If my new employer's satisfied--well, I suppose that's an
end of it."

"Your what?" Sybil demanded.

The young man waved his hand genially towards Jacob.

"He's taken me on as secretary," he announced. "First job, trip out