"Not exactly afraid of him; but he's a millionnaire, and Miss Vennor has a fortune in her own right. And I——"
"Don't finish it. I understand your objection; you are poor and proud—and that's as it should be; but tell me—you are in love with Miss Vennor, aren't you? When did it begin?"
"A year ago."
"You didn't permit yourself to fall in love with her until you knew all about her circumstances and prospects, of course?"
"You know better than that. It was—it was what you'd call love at first sight," he confessed, rather shame-facedly; and then he told her how it began.
"Very good," said Mrs. Burton, approvingly. "Then you did actually manage to fall in love with Gertrude herself, and not with her money. But now, because you've found out she has money, you are going to spoil your chance of happiness, and possibly hers. Is that it?"
Brockway tried to explain. "It's awfully good of you to try to put it in that light, but no one would ever believe that I wasn't mercenary—that I wasn't a shameless cad of a fortune-hunter. I couldn't stand that, you know."
"No, of course not; not even for her sake. Besides, she doubtless looks upon you as a fortune-hunter, and——"
"What? Indeed she doesn't anything of the kind."
"Well, then, if you are sure she doesn't misjudge you, what do you care for the opinion of the world at large?"