“You would like,” he repeated, “to see us married!”

She looked away from him.  He could see that for some reason or other she was embarrassed.  The colour had streamed into her cheeks, but she went on bravely enough.

“Yes!” she said.  “I talked to my uncle about it, and he was quite nice.  He says that he does not want to see Stella again for a short time, but if you two have made up your minds to be married—­that is how he put it—­he is going to give Stella a million dollars.”

“You must be a magician,” he said coolly.

“I am nothing of the sort,” she answered, “but I think that my uncle has been very much misunderstood, or else something has changed him wonderfully during the past few months.  Now, I came straight to see you and to tell you this, Mr. Vine, because I do not know where to find Stella.  Can’t you be married here in London, and ask me to the wedding?”

There was a knock at the door and it was immediately opened.  They both turned round.  It was Stella who stood there.  She looked at them both for a moment in surprise.  Then she closed the door and came into the room.

“Virginia!” she exclaimed.  “What on earth are you doing here?”

“I should have come to see you, Stella,” Virginia said, “if I had known where to find you.”

“Virginia has come,” Vine said, “to tell us that your father is inclined to play the part of a benevolent parent.  I think that he must be either very ill, or going to be.  Virginia has come here to tell us that we are to be married, and that he is going to give you some little trifle for a wedding present, a million dollars, I think it was she mentioned.”

Stella looked at her cousin in amazement.

“Do you mean this, Virginia?” she exclaimed.

“Absolutely,” Virginia answered.  “He has promised faithfully.  There is no doubt about it at all.”

“Thank goodness!” Stella declared.  “I am tired of being poor, aren’t you, Norris?  Virginia, you’re a dear.”

Stella passed her arm around her cousin’s neck.  Virginia looked up a little timidly.

“And you will marry Mr. Vine, then,” she said, “at once?”

Stella laughed softly.

“My dear child,” she said, “we have been married for six weeks.”

Virginia leaned back in her chair.

“Oh!” she said.  Then suddenly she sprang to her feet.  She was obviously delighted.  A certain restraint had left her manner.  It was clear that the news was a relief to her.

“This,” she said, “is delightful.  You are both of you to come to dinner to-night at Claridge’s.  Your father told me that I was to ask you,” she said, turning to Stella, “if I found you both,”

“At eight o’clock, I suppose?” Vine remarked.  “We will be there.”

Virginia and Stella left together.

“I have an automobile outside,” Virginia said a little shyly.  “Your father is ever so much too kind to me, but I do hope, Stella, that you don’t mind.  I feel sure that he is going to be quite different now.”