There was silence--till Elizabeth murmured--"And what did he say?"
The lad drew himself away from her with an angry movement.
"He refused!"
Elizabeth lifted herself, a gleam of something splendid and passionate lighting up her small face.
"And what else, dear Philip, did you expect?"
"I expected him to look at it reasonably!" cried the boy. "How can he ask a woman like you to go and live with him on the prairies? It's ridiculous! He can go into English politics, if he wants politics. Why shouldn't he live on your money? Everybody does it!"
"Did you really understand what you were asking him to do, Philip?"
"Of course I did! Why, what's Canada compared to England? Jolly good thing for him. Why he might be anything here! And as if I wouldn't rather be a dustman in England than a--"
"Philip, my dear boy! do rest--do go to bed," cried his mother imploringly, coming into the room with her soft hurrying step. "It's going on for one o'clock. Elizabeth mustn't keep you talking like this!"
She smiled at him with uplifted finger, trying to hide from him all traces of emotion.