"She is very selfish, and makes you miserable to please herself," said Bracken crossly. "I shall never make much money as I am not a genius as you are, Zara. If you could only get the engagement you deserve you would make sufficient to settle your mother, and then we could get married."
"Allow me to see to that," said Owain quickly. "See here, Bracken, and you, Zara, you may not know it but I am a rich man."
"I am very glad," said the dancer honestly. "You have made money, then?"
"I have inherited money--a large income. I owe you much, as but for you things would not have been squared."
"It was the least I could do, Mr. Hench."
"It was a very great deal to do, as the task was a delicate one. However, what I mean is this, that as you have been my friend you must allow me to be yours. Therefore"--Owain spoke slowly and deliberately--"I wish you, with Bracken's approval, of course, to accept one thousand pounds."
"Oh!" gasped Zara, flushing as red as her cloak. "I couldn't think of it."
"Nor can I," said Bracken resentfully. "I can keep my own wife."
"My dear people,"--Owain being between them took an arm of each,--"if you like you can pay me back on some future occasion. Zara, your mother will bother me to marry you until some barrier is raised which will prevent your being my possible wife. At present, as you have stated, you are not able to marry for want of money. Now if I give you this thousand pounds, which I can very easily spare, I want you to get married quietly. When your mother learns that you are Mrs. Bracken she will leave me alone. Then you can give her a sum of money to live on in the meantime and will be able to rest on your oars and look about for a better engagement. You see?"
"Yes," said Zara gratefully. "I see, and I am very much obliged. If I can give my mother half the money she will go to her people in Buda Pesth and amuse herself with gambling. Then with five hundred pounds Ned and and I can manage to get to the West End. Money always brings money, and I am sure that I could get an engagement."