"We should neither of us have anything whatever," his mother interrupted, laughing. "It is bad enough as it is, but it would have been worse if we'd had our hands free."
Her spirits were evidently once more high; she seemed to have cast off fear and care alike.
"Well," she said, rising, "I must go home. You want to go and find the Count, of course."
She went up to her son, and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Dear boy," she said, "I'm not really so bad as I seem. I was a fool to gamble, but I never did anything else that was very bad. Oh, you don't know what a weight it is off my shoulders to have that note paid. Of course it will be hard on you just now, but we must hurry on the marriage with May, and then you'll have money enough."
He smiled down on her with a look in which despite its scrutiny there was a good deal of fondness. Worldly as the Neligages were, there was still a strong bond of affection between them.
"All right, old lady," he said, stooping forward to kiss her forehead. "I'm awfully sorry you've had such a hard time, but you're out of it now. Only there's one thing I insist on. You are to tell nobody of the engagement till I give you leave."
She studied his face keenly.
"If I don't announce it," she said frankly, "I'm afraid you'll squirm out of it."
He laughed buoyantly.