"Ah! There we have it!" And Alaric sprang up and faced the old lady. "There we have it! DOES she LOVE me?"
Mrs. Chichester looked fondly at her only son and answered:
"How could she be NEAR you for the last month and NOT love you?"
Alaric nodded:
"Of course there is that. Now, let me see—just get a solid grip on the whole thing. IF she LOVES me—and taking all things into consideration—for YOUR sake and darling ETHEL'S and for my—that is—"
He suddenly broke off, took his mother's hand between both of his and pressed it encouragingly, and with the courage of hopefulness, he said:
"Anyway, mater, it's a go! I'll do it. It will take a bit of doin', but I'll do it."
"Bless you, my boy," said the overjoyed mother, "Bless you."
As they came out of the little arbour it seemed as if Fate had changed the whole horizon for the Chichester family.
Mrs. Chichester was happy in the consciousness that her home and her family would lie free from the biting grip of debt.