"Why, didn't you get it?" said Stainton. "The wire telling you to come here."
"Oh," said Muriel, "that one? Yes."
"You see," explained Jim as he kissed her again and again, "I wanted to have you right away all to myself; that's why I asked you to come back here."
"Yes," said Muriel, "that was better. I didn't want to have you meet me before those strangers."
"Not exactly strangers, dear; but it's better to be together, just our two selves—just our one self, isn't it? And we'll be that always now," he continued joyously as he sat down in an arm-chair and drew her to his knee. "Just we two. No more business. Never again. I have earned my reward and got it. The blessed mine has served its turn and is gone—going, going, gone—and at a splendid figure. Sold to M. Henri Duperré Boussingault et Cie., for——I told you the figure, didn't I—our figure? Isn't it splendid?"
"I am glad," said Muriel.
"You don't really object?" he asked.
"Why should I? Of course I am glad."
"But don't you remember? Once you said that you didn't want me to sell it."
"Did I? Oh, yes; I do remember—but you showed me how foolish that was."