"Means to! She loves him passionately--devotedly. She would wait for him
all her life, and think it happiness only to see him once in a way."

"As an astronomer looks at a star through a telescope," laughed Maude;
"and Val is not worth the devotion."

"Val is not a bad fellow in the main; quite the contrary, Maude. Of
course we all know his besetting sin--irresolution. A child might sway
him, either for good or ill. The very best thing that could happen to Val
would be his marriage with Anne. She is sensible and judicious; and I
think Val could not fail to keep straight under her influence. If Dr.
Ashton could only be brought to see the matter in this light!"

"Can he not?"

"He thinks--and I don't say he has not reason--that Val should show
some proof of stability before his marriage, instead of waiting until
after it. The doctor has not gone to the extent of parting them, or of
suspending the engagement; but he is prepared to be strict and exacting
as to Mr. Val's line of conduct; and I fancy the suspicion that it would
be so has kept Val away from Calne."

"What will be done?"

"I hardly know. Val does not make a confidant of me, and I can't get to
the bottom of how he is situated. Debts I am sure he has; but whether--"

"Val always had plenty of those," interrupted Maude.

"True. When my father died, three parts of Val's inheritance went to pay