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one before her。 〃I am here on BUSINESS； otherwise I should not
have dared to look in upon you at all。〃
She stopped； drew off her gloves with a provoking deliberation；
which was none the less fascinating that it implied a demure
consciousness of inducing some impatience in the breast of her
companion； stretched them out carefully by the fingers； laid them
down neatly on the table； placed her elbows on her knees； slightly
clasped her hands together； and bending forward； lifted her honest；
handsome eyes to the man before her。
〃Mr。 Rushbrook； I have got between four and five hundred thousand
dollars that I have no use for； I can control securities which can
be converted； if necessary； into a hundred thousand more in ten
days。 I am free and my own mistress。 It is generally considered
that I know what I am aboutyou admitted as much when I was your
pupil。 I have come here to place this sum in your hands； at your
free disposal。 You know why and for what purpose。〃
〃But what do you know of my affairs？〃 asked Rushbrook； quickly。
〃Everything； and I know YOU； which is better。 Call it an
investment if you likefor I know you will succeedand let me
share your profits。 Call itif you pleaserestitution； for I am
the miserable cause of your rupture with that man。 Or call it
revenge if you like；〃 she said with a faint smile； 〃and let me
fight at your side against our common enemy！ Please； Mr。
Rushbrook； don't deny me this。 I have come three thousand miles
for it； I could have sent it to youor writtenbut I feared you
would not understand it。 You are smilingyou will take it？〃
〃I cannot；〃 said Rushbrook； gravely。
〃Then you force me to go into the Stock Market myself； and fight
for you； and； unaided by YOUR genius； perhaps lose it without
benefiting you。〃
Rushbrook did not reply。
〃At least； then； tell me why you 'cannot。'〃
Rushbrook rose； and looking into her face； said quietly with his
old directness：
〃Because I love you； Miss Nevil。〃
A sudden instinct to rise and move away； a greater one to remain
and hear him speak again； and a still greater one to keep back the
blood that she felt was returning all too quickly to her cheek
after the first shock； kept her silent。 But she dropped her eyes。
〃I loved you ever since I first saw you at Los Osos；〃 he went on
quickly； 〃I said to myself even then； that if there was a woman
that would fill my life； and make me what she wished me to be； it
was you。 I even fancied that day that you understood me better
than any woman； or even any man； that I had ever met before。 I
loved you through all that miserable business with that man； even
when my failure to make you happy with another brought me no nearer
to you。 I have loved you always。 I shall love you always。 I love
you more for this foolish kindness that brings YOU beneath my roof
once more； and gives me a chance to speak my heart to you； if only
once and for the last time； than all the fortune that you could put
at my disposal。 But I could not accept what you would offer me
from any woman who was not my wifeand I could not marry any woman
that did not love me。 I am perhaps past the age when I could
inspire a young girl's affection； but I have not reached the age
when I would accept anything less。〃 He stopped abruptly。 Grace
did not look up。 There was a tear glistening upon her long
eyelashes； albeit a faint smile played upon her lips。
〃Do you call this business； Mr。 Rushbrook？〃 she said softly。
〃Business？〃
〃To assume a proposal declined before it has been offered。〃
〃Gracemy darlingtell meis it possible？〃
It was too late for her to rise now； as his hands held both hers；
and his handsome mouth was smiling level with her own。 So it
really seemed to a dispassionate spectator that it WAS possible；
and before she had left the room； it even appeared to be the most
probable thing in the world。
。 。 。 。 。 。
The union of Grace Nevil and Robert Rushbrook was recorded by local
history as the crown to his victory over the Ring。 But only he and
his wife knew that it was the cause。
End