"At least," said Williams, "she made it possible."
Hale took him up quickly.
"Not a bit of it. It was settled quite irrespective of her—that day when you saw me kiss Doris in the hall. It was all arranged then; only, of course, we thought we were going to be hard up. I shall never forget that, Mr. Williams—that Doris was willing to give up that enormous income for me."
"Was she?" said Williams. And as Hale nodded to himself he went on, "Why did you go away like that for a month?"
"Doris wanted me to," he answered. "She thought it was only fair to Miss Southgate. I felt perfectly safe. I had her promise, and she thought she might bring Miss Southgate round to approving of the marriage. I never thought she'd succeed; but, you see, she did. She's a very remarkable woman, is Doris."
"She is, indeed," said Williams cordially.
Presently she came downstairs—the very remarkable woman—hand in hand with Antonia, and she and Hale drove away to the steamer.
Williams found himself holding Antonia's large, heavy, white hand.
"I think you've been wonderful, Miss Southgate," he said.