I was glad that you were
not there."
Lois sat silent, her head resting on her hand, her eyes fixed
thoughtfully on the table.
"And what are we going to do?" she asked at last. "You take the matter
so easily, but if we are really ruined--"
He laid his hand affectionately on her shoulder.
"_I_ am ruined, Lois. I did not say that you were. Even with your
rather low opinion of me, you could hardly have supposed that I would
touch your money. You are well enough off to do what you like. As for
me--" he squared his shoulders--"I feel quite capable of starting
things all over again."
His tone touched her. She looked up, and her face softened. There was
nothing that could have made her happier than to have discovered in
her husband some elements of courage and sincerity.
"Of course, Archibald, whatever is mine is yours," she said. "You must
have known that."
"My dear generous little woman!" He bent over her and kissed her,
apparently unconscious that she instinctively drew back from his
caress. "If you really will help me, no doubt I shall build things up
again in no time, and this one blunder won't count for much. You are a
worthy comrade for a man."
Perhaps he had accepted her offer too quickly, perhaps his tone jarred
on her as too elated, too satisfied. She got up, pushing her letters
quickly to one side.
"You really wish us to start for Madras to-night?"
"Yes, if you can manage it.
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