’Oh, after she is married, if you take her well in hand, it will be easy enough,’ said his mother confidently.  ’She did not give you a positive refusal, then?’

‘No; but I’m not going to make myself too cheap,’ said George; ’it seldom pays in any circumstances—­in dealings with women, never.  They set all the more store by a fellow who thinks a good deal of himself.’

‘Then you should be very successful,’ said Mrs. Fordyce, with a smile.  ’Well, remember that nothing will give your father and me greater pleasure than to hear that you are engaged to Gladys Graham.’

’Well, I’d better get out of this.  Twenty minutes to eleven!  By Jove, wonder what the governor would say if he were to pop in just now?  Thunder’s not in it.’

So the amiable and self-satisfied George took himself off to the mill, and all day long thought much of his mother’s advice, and somehow he felt himself being impelled towards paying another visit to Bourhill.  Out of that visit arose portentous issues, which were to have the strongest possible influence upon the future of Gladys Graham.  He found her in a lonely and impressionable mood, and left the house, to his own profound astonishment, an accepted lover.

That very evening, after he was gone, Gladys sat by the fire in her spacious drawing-room, turning upon her third finger the diamond ring George Fordyce had transferred from his own hand to hers, whispering as he did so that she should soon have one worthier of her.  Watching the flashing of the stone in the gleaming firelight, she wondered to see tears, matching the diamonds in brilliance, falling on her gown.  She did not understand these tears; she did not think herself unhappy, though she felt none of that passionate, trembling joy which happy love, as she had heard and read of it, is entitled to feel.  She realised that she had taken a great and important step in life, and that it seemed to weigh upon her, that was all.  In her loneliness she longed passionately for some sympathetic soul to lean upon.  Miss Peck had gone back to the fen country to see a dying friend, and for some days she had heard nothing of Teen, who was pursuing in Glasgow her search for the lost and mysterious Liz.  In the midst of the strange reverie she heard footsteps on the stair, and presently a knock came to the door.  As it was opened, the silver chimes of the old brass clock rang seven.

‘Mr. Hepburn.’

Gladys sprang up, struck by the familiar name, yet not expecting to behold her old companion in the flesh, and there he was, standing modestly, yet with so much manliness and courage in his bearing, that she could not forbear a little cry of welcome as she ran to him with outstretched hands.  It seemed as if her prayer for the sympathy of one who understood her was answered far beyond any hope or expectations she had cherished regarding it.

’Oh, Walter, I am so very glad to see you!  It is so good of you to come.  I have so often wished to see you here.  Come away, come away!’