light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience."

"Philip's conscience!" said the wife, with a sneer; "what next?"

"It appears to me," said Lord Grayleigh, "that he has an active one."

"It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug."

"Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband's
conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it more----"

"I really will not stay here to be lectured," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "It
is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him well.
Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered."

"And I cannot answer it, for I do not know."

"But you think he will?"

"That is my impression."

"You can, at least, tell me what occurred."

"I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
to Queensland."

"To go where?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.

"As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
England?"

"I didn't know."

"Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
paid well, and will receive a large number of shares."

"What do you mean by being paid well?"

"He will have his expenses, and something over."

"Something over! that is a very elastic term."

"In your husband's case it will mean thousands."

"Oh, I see; and then the shares?"

"The shares will practically make him a rich man."

"Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
line." She turned to leave the summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.

"If I were you," he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
voice as he spoke, "if I were you, upon my honor, I'd leave him
alone."

"Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
for his own good?"

"Very well," said Lord Grayleigh; "I only ventured to make a
suggestion."

She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:

"I never found you so disagreeable before." She then left the
summer-house.

Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
stopped.

"M