face which even such as he could not entirely misinterpret。
〃Youdon'tmean；〃 he said doubtfully； 〃you don't really mean〃
and he stood hesitating before her。
〃If you would put your question a little more clearly； Alan； I might
be able to give you an answer；〃 she replied； that quaint little smile
of hers creeping to the corners of her mouth like sunshine through a
mist of rain。
〃You don't really mean；〃 he went on； 〃that you care anything about me；
like； like I have cared for you for years？〃
〃Oh！ Alan；〃 she said； laughing outright； 〃why in the name of goodness
shouldn't I care about you？ I didn't say that I do； mind； but why
shouldn't I？ What is the gulf between us？〃
〃The old one；〃 he answered； 〃that between Dives and Lazarusthat
between the rich and the poor。〃
〃Alan；〃 said Barbara； looking down； 〃I don't know what has come over
me； but for some unexplained and inexplicable reason I am inclined to
give Lazarus a leadacross that gulf； the first one； I mean； not the
second！〃
Like the glance which preceded it； this was a saying that even Alan
could not misunderstand。 He sat himself on the log beside her； while
she； still looking down； watched him out of the corners of her eyes。
He went red； he went white； his heart beat very violently。 Then he
stretched out his big brown hand and took her small white one； and as
this familiarity produced no remonstrance； let it fall； and passing
his arm about her； drew her to him and embraced her； not once； but
often； with such vigour that a squirrel which had been watching these
proceedings from a neighbouring tree； bolted round it scandalized and
was seen no more。
〃I love you； I love you；〃 he said huskily。
〃So I gather；〃 she answered in a feeble voice。
〃Do you care for me？〃 he asked。
〃It would seem that I must； Alan； otherwise I should scarcelyoh！ you
foolish Alan；〃 and heedless of her Sunday hat； which never recovered
from this encounter； but was kept as a holy relic； she let her head
fall upon his shoulder and began to cry again； this time for very
happiness。
He kissed her tears away； then as he could think of nothing else to
say； asked her if she would marry him。
〃It is the general sequel to this kind of thing； I believe；〃 she
answered； 〃or at any rate it ought to be。 But if you want a direct
answeryes； I will； if my uncle will let me； which he won't； as you
have quarrelled with him； or at any rate two years hence； when I am
five and twenty and my own mistress； that is if we have anything to
marry on； for one must eat。 At present our worldly possessions seem to
consist chiefly of a large store of mutual affection； a good stock of
clothes and one Yellow God； which after what happened last night； I do
not think you will get another chance of turning into cash。〃
〃I must make money somehow；〃 he said。
〃Yes； Alan； but I am afraid it is not easy to dohonestly。 Nobody
wants people without capital whose only stock in trade is a brief but
distinguished military career； and a large experience of African
fever。〃
Alan groaned at this veracious but discouraging remark； and she went
on quickly：
〃I mean to spend another guinea upon my friend the lawyer at
Kingswell。 Perhaps he can raise the wind； by a post…obit； or
something；〃 she added vaguely； 〃I mean a post…uncle…obit。〃
〃If he does； Barbara； I can't live on your money alone； it isn't
right。〃
〃Oh！ don't you trouble about that； Alan。 If once I can get hold of
those dim thousands you will soon be able to make more； for unto him
that hath shall be given。 But at present they are very dim； and for
all I know may be represented by stock in deceased companies。 In
short； the financial position is extraordinarily depressed； as they
say in the Market Intelligence in /The Times/。 But that's no reason
why we should be depressed also。〃
〃No； Barbara； for at any rate we have got each other。〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； springing up； 〃we have got each other； dear；
until Death do us part； and somehow I don't think he'll do that yet
awhile； it comes into my heart that he won't do that； Alan； that you
and I are going to live out our days。 So what does the rest matter？ In
two years I shall be a free woman。 In fact； if the worst comes to the
worst； I'll defy them all；〃 and she set her little mouth like a rock；
〃and marry you straight away； as being over age； I can do； even if it
costs me every halfpenny that I've got。〃
〃No； no；〃 he said； 〃it would be wrong； wrong to yourself and wrong to
your descendants。〃
〃Very well； Alan； then； we will wait； or perhaps luck will come our
waywhy shouldn't it？ At any rate for my part I never felt so happy
in my life； for； dear Alan； we have found what we were born to find；
found it once and for always； and the rest is mere etceteras。 What
would be the use of all the gold of the Asiki people that Jeekie was
talking about last night； to either of us； if we had not each other？
We can get on without the wealth； but we couldn't get on apart； or at
least I couldn't and I don't mind saying so。〃
〃No； my darling； no；〃 he answered； turning white at the very thought；
〃we couldn't get on apartnow。 In fact I don't know how I have done
so so long already； except that I was always hoping that a time would
come when we shouldn't be apart。 That is why I went into that infernal
business； to make enough money to be able to ask you to marry me。 And
now I have gone out of the business and asked you just when I
shouldn't。〃
〃Yes； so you see you might as well have done it a year or two ago when
perhaps things would have been simpler。 Well； it is a fine example of
the vanity of human plans； and； Alan； we must be going home to lunch。
If we don't； Sir Robert will be organizing a search party to look for
us； in fact； I shouldn't wonder if he is doing that already； in the
wrong direction。〃
The mention of Sir Robert Aylward's name fell on them both like a
blast of cold wind in summer； and for a while they walked in silence。
〃You are afraid of that man； Barbara；〃 said Alan presently； guessing
her thoughts。
〃A little；〃 she answered； 〃so far as I can be afraid of anything any
more。 And you？〃
〃A little also。 I think that he will give us trouble。 He can be very
malevolent and resourceful。〃
〃Resourceful； Alan； well； so can I。 I'll back my wits against his any
day。 He shan't separate us by anything short of murder； which he won't
go in for。 Men like that don't like to break the law； they have too
much to lose。 But no doubt he will make things uncomfortable for you；
if he can； for several reasons。〃
Again they walked on lost in reflections； when Barbara suddenly saw
her lover's face brighten。
〃What is it； Alan？〃 she asked。
〃Something that is rare enough with me； Barbaraan idea。 You remember
speaking about that Asiki gold just now。 Well； why shouldn't I go and
get it？〃
She stared at him。
〃It sounds a little speculative；〃 she said； 〃something like one of my
uncle's companies。〃
〃Not half so speculative as you think。 I have no doubt it is there and
Jeekie knows the way。 Also I seem to remember that there is a map and
an account of the whole thing in Uncle Austin's diaries； though to
tell you the truth the old fellow wrote such a fearful hand； that I
have never taken the trouble to read it。 You see；〃 he went on with
enthusiasm； 〃it is the kind of business that I can do。 I am thoroughly
salted to fever； I know the West Coast； where I spent three years on
that Boundary Commission； I have studied the natives and can talk
several of their dialects。 Of course there would be a risk； but there
are risks in everything； and like you I am not afraid about that； for
I believe that we have got our lives before us。〃
〃Read up those diaries； Alan； and we will talk the thing over again。
I'll pump Jeekie； who will tell me anything by coaxing； and try to get
at the truth。 Meanwhile what are you going to do about my uncle？〃
〃Speak to him； of course； and have the row over。〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃that is the best and the most honest。 Of course
he can turn you out； but he can't prevent my seeing you。 If he does；
go home to Yarleys and I'll come over and call。 Here we are； let us go
in by the back door；〃 and she pointed to her crushed hat； and laughed。
CHAPTER V
BARBARA MAKES A SPEECH
While Alan and Barbara； on the most momentous occasion of their lives；
were seated upon the fallen oak in the woods that thrilled with the
breath of spring； another interview was taking place in Mr。 Champers…
Haswell's private suite at The Court； the decorations of which； as he
was wont to inform his visitors； had cost nearly ￡2000。 Sir Robert；
whose taste at any rate was good； thought them so appalling that while
waiting for his host and partner； whom he had come to see； he took a
seat in the bow window of the sitting…room and studied the view that
nobody had been able to spoil。 Presently Mr。 Haswell emerged from his
bedroom； wrapped in a dressing gown and looking very pale and shaky。
〃Delighted to see you all right again；〃 said Sir Robert as he wheeled
up a chair into which Mr。 Haswell sank。
〃I am not all right； Aylward；〃 he answered； 〃I am not all right at
all。 Never had such an upset in my life； thought