Only by the greatest cleverness did Garvington manage to keep interest on the mortgages paid up, hoping that he would marry a rich wife--an American for choice--and so could put things straight.

But he married Jane, as you know--" "Because he is a glutton, and she knows all about cooking." "Well, gluttony may be as powerful a vice as drinking and gambling, and all the rest of it.

It is with Garvington, although I daresay that seeing the position he was in, people would laugh to think he should marry a poor woman, when he needed a rich wife.

But at that time Hubert wanted to marry me, and Garvington got his cook-wife, while I was sacrificed." "Seeing that I loved you and you loved me, I wonder--" "Yes, I know you wondered, but you finally accepted my explanation that I did it to save the family name." "I did, and, much as I hated your sacrifice, it was necessary." "More necessary than you think," said Lady Agnes, sinking her voice to a whisper and glancing round, "In a moment of madness Garvington altered a check which Hubert gave him, and was in danger of arrest.

Hubert declared that he would give up the check if I married him.