"That depends upon your temperament--the desire to leave the dull village--the desire to have money, and above all, the desire to be loved by some woman."
"Ah," said Blake, whom this last remark stung sharply, "at least I have that incentive."
Beaumont laughed.
"Then the result must follow, you will persevere and succeed."
Blake was much impressed with Beaumont's remarks, for a vision rose before him of a bright future and a famous name with Una for his wife. Then the recollection of the dark secret of his birth came back to him; if what he surmised were true, he would have nothing to work for as there would be an insuperable bar between him and the girl he loved. The roseate scenes he had conjured up vanished, and in their place he only saw the sorrow of a lonely life. He sighed involuntarily, and shook his head.
"It all depends on one thing," he said sadly.
"And that one thing?" asked Beaumont keenly.
"It is at present a secret," replied Blake curtly, whereupon Beaumont laughed lightly in no wise offended, and they walked on for a short distance in silence.
They were now nearing the Grange, and Beaumont was going to turn back when he saw Nestley coming down the road.
"Here is Nestley," he said carelessly, "so you can learn all about the Squire from him, and need not go to the Grange."