“That’s not certain. Clarence has a way of squandering money, and you may as well understand that there’s very little to be derived from agricultural property. George had his mother’s money, but he left it to Millicent; Clarence got only the land. That’s what made a match between them seem so desirable.”
“Desirable!” Lisle broke out. “It’s impossible! Not to be contemplated!”
“Yes,” Nasmyth agreed quietly. “If necessary, it will have to be prevented. I was only stating popular opinion.”
There was something curious in his tone and Lisle looked hard at him. Their eyes met full for a moment and the thoughts of each were clear to the other.
“If anything must be done, it will fall to you,” Nasmyth went on. “In this case it would be particularly invidious for me to interfere. But, if there had been nobody else, I’d have broken off the match.”
Lisle made no comment, but there was comprehension and sympathy in his expression, and Nasmyth nodded.
“Yes,” he acknowledged; “it’s an open secret that I would have looked for nothing better than to marry Millicent Gladwyne.” He paused with a slight flush creeping into his bronzed face. “For all that, I knew some years ago that I hadn’t the faintest chance and never would have. I have her confidence and friendship; that has to be enough.”
“I think it’s a good deal,” said Lisle.
There was silence for a minute or two, and then Lisle asked a question:
“How could a girl like Millicent Gladwyne ever contemplate the possibility of marrying Clarence?”