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although it is true that Barbara was his friend and helper。
The simple service went on； the first lesson was read。 It cried woe
upon them that joined house to house and field to field； that draw
iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart rope；
that call evil good and good evil； that put darkness for light and
light for darkness； that justify the wicked for reward； that feast
full but regard not the work of the Lord； neither consider the
operation of His hand； for of such it prophesied that their houses
great and fair should be without inhabitant and desolate。
It was very well read； and Alan； listening； thought that the
denunciations of the old seer of thousands of years ago were not
inappropriate to the dwellers in some houses great and fair of his own
day； who； whatever they did or left undone； regarded not the work of
the Lord； neither considered the operation of His hand。 Perhaps
Barbara thought so too； at any rate a rather sad little smile appeared
once or twice upon her sweet； firm face as the immortal poem echoed
down the aisle。
The peace that passeth understanding was invoked upon their heads； and
rising with the rest of the scanty congregation they went away。
〃Shall we walk home by the woods； Alan？〃 asked Barbara。 〃It is three
miles round； but we don't lunch till two。〃
He nodded； and presently they were alone in those woods； the beautiful
woods through which the breath of spring was breathing； treading upon
carpets of bluebells； violet and primrose； quite alone； unaccompanied
save by the wild things that stole across their path； undisturbed save
by the sound of the singing birds and of the wind among the trees。
〃What did you mean； Barbara； when you said that I should be a grateful
man to…day？〃 asked Alan presently。
Barbara looked him in the eyes in that open； virginal fashion of hers
and answered in the words of the lesson； 〃'Woe unto them that draw
iniquity with the cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart…rope；
that lay house to house；'〃 and through an opening in the woods she
pointed to the roof of The Court standing on one hill； and to the roof
of Old Hall standing upon another〃'and field to field；'〃 and with a
sweep of her hand she indicated all the country round； 〃'for many
houses great and fair that have music in their feasts shall be left
desolate。'〃 Then turning she said：
〃Do you understand now； Alan？〃
〃I think so；〃 he answered。 〃You mean that I have been in bad company。〃
〃Very bad； Alan。 One of them is my own uncle； but the truth remains
the truth。 Alan； they are no better than thieves； all this wealth is
stolen； and I thank God that you have found it out in time before you
became one of them in heart as well as in name。〃
〃If you refer to the Sahara Syndicate；〃 he said； 〃the idea is sound
enough； indeed； I am responsible for it。 The thing can be done； great
benefits would result； too long to go into。〃
〃Yes； yes； Alan； but you know that they never mean to do it； they only
mean to get the millions from the public。 I have lived with my uncle
for ten years； ever since my poor father died； and I know the
backstairs of the business。 There have been half a dozen schemes like
this； and although they have had their bad times； very bad times； he
and Sir Robert have grown richer and richer。 But what has happened to
those who have invested in them？ Oh！ let us drop the subject； it is
unpleasant。 For myself it doesn't matter； because although it isn't
under my control； I have money of my own。 You know we are a plebeian
lot on the male side； my grandfather was a draper in a large way of
business； my father was a coal…merchant who made a great fortune。 His
brother； my uncle； in whom my father always believed implicitly； took
to what is called Finance； and when my father died he left me； his
only child； in his guardianship。 Until I am five and twenty I cannot
even marry or touch a halfpenny without his consent； in fact if I
should marry against his will the most of my money goes to him。〃
〃I expect that he has got it already；〃 said Alan。
〃No； I think not。 I found out that； although it is not mine； it is not
his。 He can't draw it without my signature； and I steadily refuse to
sign anything。 Again and again they have brought me documents； and I
have always said that I would consider them at five and twenty； when I
came of age under my father's will。 I went on the sly to a lawyer in
Kingswell and paid him a guinea for his advice； and he put me up to
that。 'Sign nothing；' he said； and I have signed nothing； so； except
by forgery nothing can have gone。 Still for all that it may have gone。
For anything I know I am not worth more than the clothes I stand in；
although my father was a very rich man。〃
〃If so； we are about in the same boat； Barbara；〃 Alan answered with a
laugh； 〃for my present possessions are Yarleys； which brings in about
￡100 a year less than the interest on its mortgages and cost of
upkeep； and the ￡1700 that Aylward paid me back on Friday for my
shares。 If I had stuck to them I understand that in a week or two I
should have been worth ￡100；000； and now you see； here I am； over
thirty years of age without a profession； invalided out of the army
and having failed in finance； a mere bit of driftwood without hope and
without a trade。〃
Barbara's brown eyes grew soft with sympathy； or was it tears？
〃You are a curious creature； Alan；〃 she said。 〃Why didn't you take the
￡17；000 for that fetish of yours？ It would have been a fair deal and
have set you on your legs。〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered dejectedly。 〃It went against the grain； so
what is the use of talking about it？ I think my old uncle Austin told
me it wasn't to be parted withno； perhaps it was Jeekie。 Bother the
Yellow God！ it is always cropping up。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Barbara； 〃the Yellow God is always cropping up；
especially in this neighbourhood。〃
They walked on a while in silence； till suddenly Barbara sat down upon
a bole of felled oak and began to cry。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 asked Alan。
〃I don't know；〃 she answered。 〃Everything goes wrong。 I live in a kind
of gilded hell。 I don't like my uncle and I loath the men he brings
about the place。 I have no friends； I scarcely know a woman
intimately； I have troubles I can't tell you andI am wretched。 You
are the only creature I have left to talk to； and I suppose that after
this row you must go away too to make your living。〃
Alan looked at her there weeping on the log and his heart swelled
within him； for he had loved this girl for years。
〃Barbara；〃 he gasped； 〃please don't cry； it upsets me。 You know you
are a great heiress〃
〃That remains to be proved；〃 she answered。 〃But anyway； what has it to
do with the case？〃
〃It has everything to do with it； at least so far as I am concerned。
If it hadn't been for that I should have asked you to marry me a long
while ago； because I love you； as I would now； but of course it is
impossible。〃
Barbara ceased her weeping； wiped her eyes with the back of her hand；
and looked up at him。
〃Alan；〃 she said； 〃I think that you are the biggest fool I ever knew
not but that a fool is rather refresh