He used the word
which he knew most appealed to her masculine affectations.

"Sure," said Miss Greeby again, and once more heartily. "Real, honest
pals. I never believed in that stuff about the impossibility of a man
and woman being pals unless there's love rubbish about the business. At
one time, Lambert, I don't deny but what I had a feeling of that sort
for you."

"And now?" questioned the young man with an uneasy smile.

"Now it's gone, or rather my love has become affection, and that's quite
a different thing, old fellow. I want to see you happy, and you aren't
now. I daresay you're still crying for the moon. Eh?" she looked at him
sharply.

"You asked me that before when you came here," said Lambert, slowly.
"And I refused to answer. I can answer now. The moon is quite beyond my
reach, so I have dried my tears."

Miss Greeby, who was lighting a cigarette, threw away the match and
stared hard at his haggard face. "Well, I didn't expect to hear that,
now we know how the moon--"

"Call things by their right name," interrupted Lambert, sharply. "Agnes
is now a widow, if that's what you mean."

"It is, if you call Agnes a thing. Of course, you'll marry her since the
barrier has been removed?"

"Meaning Pine? No! I'm not certain on that point. She is a rich widow
and I'm a poor artist. In honor bound I can't allow her to lose her
money by becoming my wife."

Miss Greeby stared at the fire. "I heard about that beastly will," she
said, frowning. "Horribly unfair, I call it. Still, I believed that you
loved the moon--well, then, Agnes, since you wish us to be plain--and
would carry her off if you had the pluck."

"I have never been accused of not having pluck, Clara. But there's
another thing to be considered, and that's honor."

"Oh, bosh!" cried Miss Greeby, with boyish vigor. "You love her and she
loves you, so why not marry?"

"I'm not worth paying two million for, Clara."

"You are, if she loves you."

"She does and would marry me to-morrow if I would let her. The
hesitation is on my part."

"More fool you. If I were in her position I'd soon overcome your
scruples."

"I think not," said Lambert delicately.

"Oh, I think so," she retorted. "A woman always gets her own way."

"And sometimes wrecks continents to get it."

"I'd wreck this one, anyhow," said Miss Greeby dryly. "However, we're
pals, and if there's anything I can do--"

"Yes, there is," said Lambert abruptly, and making up his mind