xpressed the
thought uppermost in my mind at the moment of his question as a matter
of course. Then, too, he borrowed so constantly and so freely from me
that the idea of offence over money matters or mentioning them seemed
quite impossible.

"No," I thought, glancing at him as he still stood between me and the
light; "there must be something else in his mind," and I wondered.

He was seldom out of temper, and seldom made himself disagreeable to
me. In conversation, in all our life together, he generally yielded to
me with an almost womanly compliance. His present tone and manner were
absolutely new to me. I did not understand them, and I liked him well
enough to take the trouble to get up after a second and follow him to
the window.

"Howard," I said gently, "what is the matter? I am sorry if I have
annoyed you."

He turned upon me suddenly from the window.

"Did I ever say I wanted the money you might get from your cursed
book?" he said, passionately. "Do you suppose I couldn't get as much
for something of my own if I chose?"

Now, considering Howard was always in want of money, and perpetually
lamenting his inability, real or imagined, to get it, the last remark
seemed rather odd, and the vehemence with which he spoke against me was
altogether incomprehensible.

"Of course," I answered quietly, looking down into his excited face. "I
merely offered the money as a convenience, pro tem, as it happened to
be at hand, that's all. But surely it doesn't matter. Perhaps I should
not have done. I apologise. Doesn't that make it square?"

I thought he was out of health, irritable, disappointed that he had not
made more of his own work, and jealous of my success, and I was willing
to say anything to soften his feelings.

Howard simply turned away from me again, and I caught a mutter of
"damned impertinence."

Seeing it was useless to say anything further at the moment, I strolled
back into the centre of the room again, called Nous to me, and sat down.

"Jealous!" I thought, with contemptuous amusement; "how extraordinary!"

Then my thoughts rushed away in a sudden stream to Lucia, and I saw her
face, glowing with delight, look out upon me from the blank surface of
the wall.

"How soon now shall I possess you?" was my one thought. "How long to
our marriage?"

I began by allowing three months, but I shortened and shortened the
time till I cut it down to a fortnight.

"Could I persuade her to let it be in a for