"I may as well confess that I love Douglas," admitted Alice boldly, "and he loves me. Already we have asked father's consent to our marriage."
"He will give it without doubt, Alice. It is a happy way of getting back the lost money."
"Oh the money! the money!" she cried petulantly; "you talk just as Amy talks, Julian. As if I cared for money. I love Douglas, and if he were a pauper I would marry him. And my father has not jumped at the chance of getting back the money, as you seem to think. He won't say yes and he won't say no."
"He must say something," remarked Julian, with a shrug.
"Nothing. He refuses to give his decision until he knows more about Douglas."
Hardwick nodded. "That is natural and sensible. So the young man is coming to Tremore to be put through his paces?"
"How clever of you to guess that. He is—in a few days. Oh, how anxious I feel, Julian. So much depends upon my father."
"He will consent, I am sure, Alice. With such a disposition as you have, you could choose no one but a really good man for your husband."
Alice laughed a trifle bitterly, which was strange considering her prospects and happy state of mind. "Goodness or badness matter very little when one is in love, Julian. And they do not matter at all to my father so long as I marry a rich man. It is a good thing for me that Douglas has plenty of money, for only in that way will things run smoothly for both of us. Otherwise I feel certain that my father would still insist upon my marrying Don Pablo."