"True, I had forgotten that," he answers. "And so you have been waiting all this time. I wish you would tell me why you wish me to do this for you when there are others equally capable, and far more willing."
Of this pointed reminder Maud wisely takes no heed save a gentle, quickly suppressed sigh.
"Perhaps you would be angry if I told you my reason," she says, gently, removing her eyes a moment from the contemplation of her folded, milk-white hands to glance into his fair, grave, handsome face.
"Oh, no, I am quite curious to hear," he replies.
"I think you know that Mr. Langton allowed his lawyer a very liberal salary," she begins. "You know there is a great deal of work, really, a number of tenements here, several farms in the country——"
"I know all that," he interrupts, with a slight air of brusqueness.
"I should like," she answers, with a very becoming blush, "that you should have that salary, Vane. It would only be fair, seeing that the whole property would have been yours but for my foolish, deeply repented error.
"Thank you, you are very kind," Vane replies, with grim brevity.
"Do you think so?" she asks, simply, then with an anxious look into his unmoved face, she continues: "Will you be kinder still, Vane, and permit me to offer this salve to my accusing conscience?"
"If only I were not so busy," Vane says, with artful reluctance.