“I can hardly do that just now; he’s useful in several ways. Still, of course, if I married—”
He broke off abruptly, for his mother had occasional flashes of discernment.
“Millicent has means,” she said.
He started at this, wondering how much she had guessed, but he veiled his embarrassment with a smile.
“Well,” he acknowledged, “means, as you most wisely remarked, are not to be despised, and mine are unfortunately small.”
She saw that she had said enough and she left him sitting in the darkening room thinking rather hard. Bella had thrown him over when he had refused to help her brother, and there were many ways in which Millicent appealed to him. Besides, she could free him of his debt to Batley, which was a thing greatly to be desired. She had shown that she did not blame him severely for the accident at the hurdles, but he realized that in trying to comfort him she had been prompted by pity for his dejected mood, and it was clear that the part he had played was scarcely likely to raise him in her esteem. This was unfortunate, but he would not dwell on it; there were other points to consider and anything that served to divert his thoughts from the unfortunate affair was a vast relief.
When at last he rose he had partly recovered his usual equanimity and had decided that he would watch for some sign of Millicent’s feelings toward him. He was aware that they had somewhat changed, but this was to a large extent his fault, and with caution and patience he thought it might be possible to reinstate himself in her favor.