"I don't think so," said Miss Moon, as they began to climb the steps again, and return to the house. "Mr. Laurance helped you to learn who killed my dear father, and deserved a reward, as you did. I gave him money and----"
"And you gave me yourself, so I have been rewarded very richly. Well, Freddy will make a very good proprietor and editor of a newspaper, and Mildred can help him to make it a success. All's well that ends well."
"And you are quite--quite happy, dear?"
"Quite, quite. Only I fear," Dan sighed, "that some people will call me a fortune hunter, seeing that I, without a penny, am marrying a rich woman." Lillian stopped in the path up to the house and took hold of the lapels of Dan's coat to shake him. "How can you talk such nonsense," she said reproachfully; "why, after your portrait and an account of all you have done appearing in the papers, you could have married half a dozen women."
"But none so sweet as you, dear," said Halliday, kissing her, for her lips were temptingly near his own; "well, I must not despise my good fortune. But what can I give you in return, Miss Crœsus?"
"A promise," said Lillian, earnestly, "that you will not go up any more in those horrid flying-machines. I shall always be afraid of losing you if you do; you know that quite well."
"Let me take a tiny little flight occasionally," coaxed Dan, gaily. "Well, yes, on condition that you take me. If there is an accident, we can be smashed up together. Don't argue;" she placed her hand on his mouth; "that is the only way in which I shall agree to your flying."
"Wilful woman will do what she wants," said Halliday, resignedly, and tucked Lillian's arm beneath his own; "hello, there is Sir John and Mrs. Bolstreath on the terrace. They seem to be very happy together."
"So happy," whispered Lillian in his ear, "that I believe----" She pursed up her lips and looked unutterable things. "Well," said Dan, laughing, "it would not be at all a bad thing for Sir John to make Mrs. Bolstreath Lady Moon. She can nurse him and amuse him and bury him in due course. What a heap of marriages; you and I; Freddy and Mildred; Sir John and Mrs. Bolstreath. See; she's waving her hand to us. Let us go inside, as it's growing a trifle chilly."
"Hark," said Lillian, raising her finger, and Dan listened to hear the wild, delicious strain of a nightingale singing from a distant thicket. "It sings of my love for you," he whispered, "and of your love for me. What other than such a song can express our feelings, darling."