James colored and hesitated.

“Out with it,” said Gordon peremptorily.

“Clemency wished—­” began James.

“Wished you to keep it secret, of course.  Well, she told me herself, poor little soul, the moment she came into the room.”

James sat still.  He did not know what to do.  Finally he said in a stammering voice that he hoped there would be no objection.

“No objection certainly on my part or Mrs. Ewing, if Clemency has taken a fancy to you,” replied Doctor Gordon.  “But—­” he hesitated a moment.  “It is only fair to tell you that you yourself may later on entertain some very reasonable objection,” Gordon said grimly.

“It is impossible,” James cried eagerly.  “I have known her only a few weeks, but I feel as if it were a lifetime.  Nothing can change me.  And as for money, if you mean anything of that kind, I don’t care if she hasn’t a cent.  I have my profession, and my father is well-to-do.  Then, besides, I have a little that an aunt, my mother’s sister, left me.  I can support Clemency.”

“It is not that,” Gordon said.  “Clemency has—­at least I think I can secure it to her—­a little fortune of her own, and she will have something besides.  I was not thinking of money at all.”

“Then there can be nothing,” James said positively.  His sense of embarrassment had passed.  He beamed at the older man.

“There can be something else.  There is something else,” Gordon said gloomily.  “I don’t know but I ought to tell you, but, the truth is, you know my theory with regard to secrecy.  I don’t doubt but you can hold your tongue, yet the whole affair is so dangerous, that I dare not, I cannot, tell you yet.  I can only say this, that there does exist some obstacle to your marriage with my niece, and your engagement must be regarded by myself in a tentative light.  If the time ever comes when you know all, and wish to withdraw, you can do so in my opinion with perfect honor.  In the meantime you had better say nothing to any one outside.  You had better not even tell Mrs. Ewing.  I hope Clemency herself will not.  Perhaps when she has had a few hours in which to collect herself, her face will not be quite so tell-tale.”

“Nothing whatever can change me,” said James, with almost anger.

Gordon shook his head.  “I begin to think I may have done you a wrong having you come here at all,” he said.  “I suppose I ought to have thought of the possibility, but I have had so much on my mind.”

“You have done me the greatest good I ever had done me in my whole life,” James said fervently.

Gordon rose and shook the young man’s hand.  “As far as Clemency and I and Mrs. Ewing are concerned,” he said, “nothing could have been better.  Well, we will hope for the best, my boy.”  He clapped James on the shoulder and smiled, and James went to his room feeling dizzy with happiness and mystery, and a trifle so with the doctor’s punch.