'And if I make a stand—if I oppose you—well—it'll be the gates over again?' She shrugged her shoulders.
'We must try to find the money some other way. It is badly wanted. I thought—'
'You thought I had authorized this—and you've given all your work for nothing? You think I'm an impossible person?'
Suddenly she found him sitting beside her. Perforce she looked him in the face.
'Don't give notice again!' he said, almost with passion.
'It's not so easy now,' she said, with a rather uncertain voice.
'Because you've done so much for me?—because you've slaved and put your heart into it? That's true. Well now, look here. We'll put that beastly thing away to-night—perhaps I shall be in a better temper in a few days.'
There was a note in his voice he seemed unable to keep out of it. Elizabeth looking up caught the fire light on the sketch of Desmond. Had the Squire's eyes been on it too? Impossible to say—for he had already turned away.
'Oh, yes,—put it away!' she said hurriedly.
'And I'll go over the woods with you on—Friday,' said the Squire after a pause. 'Oh, I don't deny that the money is tempting. I'm not such a pauper as I once was, thanks to you. I seem to have some money in the bank—astonishing situation! And—there's a jolly good sale at Christie's coming on.'