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ing used to； this business of being a millionaire。
'That's my ambition too；' said Elizabeth； eagerly。 This was the very first time she had met a congenial spirit。 Nutty's views on farming and the Arcadian life generally were saddening to an enthusiast。 'If I had the money I should get an enormous farm； and in the summer I should borrow all the children I could find； and take them out to it and let them wallow in it。'
'Wouldn't they do a lot of damage？'
'I shouldn't mind。 I should be too rich to worry about the damage。 If they ruined the place beyond repair I'd go and buy another。' She laughed。 'It isn't so impossible as it sounds。 I came very near being able to do it。' She paused for a moment； but went on almost at once。 After all； if you cannot confide your intimate troubles to a fellow bee…lover； to whom can you confide them？ 'An uncle of mine'
Bill felt himself flushing。 He looked away from her。 He had a sense of almost unbearable guilt； as if he had just done some particularly low crime and was contemplating another。
'An uncle of mine would have left me enough money to buy all the farms I wanted； only an awful person； an English lord I wonder if you have heard of him？Lord Dawlishgot hold of uncle somehow and induced him to make a will leaving all the money to him。'
She looked at Bill for sympathy； and was touched to see that he was crimson with emotion。 He must be a perfect dear to take other people's misfortunes to heart like that。
'I don't know how he managed it；' she went on。 'He must have worked and plotted and schemed； for Uncle Ira wasn't a weak sort of man whom you could do what you liked with。 He was very obstinate。 But； anyway； this Lord Dawlish succeeded in doing it somehow； and then'her eyes blazed at the recollection'he had the insolence to write to me through his lawyers offering me half。 I suppose he was hoping to satisfy his conscience。 Naturally I refused it。'
'Butbutbut why？'
'Why！ Why did I refuse it？ Surely you don't think I was going to accept charity from the man who had cheated me？'
'Butbut perhaps he didn't mean it like that。 What I mean to say isas charity； you know。'
'He did！ But don't let's talk of it any more。 It makes me angry to think of him； and there's no use spoiling a lovely day like this by getting angry。'
Bill sighed。 He had never dreamed before that it could be so difficult to give money away。 He was profoundly glad that he had not revealed his identity； as he had been on the very point of doing just when she began her remarks。 He understood now why that curt refusal had e in answer to his lawyer's letter。 Well； there was nothing to do but wait and hope that time might acplish something。
'What do you want me to do next？' he said。 'Why did you open the hive？ Did you want to take a look at the queen？'
Elizabeth hesitated。 She blushed with pure shame。 She had had but one motive in opening the hive； and that had been to annoy him。 She scorned to take advantage of the loophole he had provided。 Beekeeping is a freemasonry。 A beekeeper cannot deceive a brother…mason。
She faced him bravely。
'I didn't want to take a look at anything； Mr Chalmers。 I opened that hive because I wanted you to drop the frame； as my brother did； and get stung； as he was； because I thought that would drive you away； because I thought then that I didn't want you down here。 I'm ashamed of myself； and I don't know where I'm getting the nerve to tell you this。 I hope you will stay onon and on and on。'
Bill was aghast。
'Good Lord！ If I'm in the way'
'You aren't in the way。'
'But you said'
'But don't you see that it's so different now？ I didn't know then that you were fond of bees。 You must stay； if my telling you hasn't made you feel that you want to catch the next train。 You will save our livesmine and Nutty's too。 Oh； dear； you're hesitating！ You're trying to think up some polite way of getting out of the place！ You mustn't go； Mr Chalmers； you simply must stay。 There aren't any mosquitoes； no jellyfishnothing！ At least； there are； but what do they matter？ You don't mind them。 Do you play golf？'
'Yes。'
'There are links here。 You can't go until you've tried them。 What is your handicap？'
'Plus two。'
'So is mine。'
'By Jove！ Really？'
Elizabeth looked at him； her eyes dancing。
'Why； we're practically twin souls； Mr Chalmers！ Tell me； I know your game is nearly perfect； but if you have a fault； is it a tendency to putt too hard？'
'Why； by Joveyes； it is！'
'I knew it。 Something told me。 It's the curse of my life too！ Well； after that you can't go away。'
'But if I'm in the way'
'In the way！ Mr Chalmers； will you e in now and help me wash the breakfast things？'
'Rather！' said Lord Dawlish。
10
In the days that followed their interrupted love…scene at Reigelheimer's Restaurant that night of Lord Dawlish's unfortunate encounter with the tray…bearing waiter； Dudley Pickering's behaviour had perplexed Claire Fenwick。 She had taken it for granted that next day at the latest he would resume the offer of his hand； heart； and automobiles。 But time passed and he made no move in that direction。 Of limousine bodies； carburettors； spark…plugs； and inner tubes he spoke with freedom and eloquence； but the subject of love and marriage he avoided absolutely。 His behaviour was inexplicable。
Claire was piqued。 She was in the position of a hostess who has swept and garnished her house against the ing of a guest and waits in vain for that guest's arrival。 She made up her mind what to do when Dudley Pickering proposed to her next time； and thereby； it seemed to her； had removed all difficulties in the way of that proposal。 She little knew her Pickering！
Dudley Pickering was not a self…starter in the motordrome of love。 He needed cranking。 He was that most unpromising of matrimonial material； a shy man with a cautious disposition。 If he overcame his shyness； caution applied the foot…brake。 If he succeeded in forgetting caution； shyness shut off the gas。 At Reigelheimer's some miracle had made him not only reckless but un…self…conscious。 Possibly the Dream of Psyche had gone to his head。 At any rate； he had been on the very verge of proposing to Claire when the interruption had occurred； and in bed that night； reviewing the affair； he had been appalled at the narrowness of his escape from taking a definite step。 Except in the way of business； he was a man who hated definite steps。 He never accepted even a dinner invitation without subsequent doubts and remorse。 The consequence was that； in the days that followed the Reigelheimer episode； what Lord Wetherby would have called the lamp of love burned rather low in Mr Pickering； as if the acetylene were running out。 He still admired Claire intensely and experienced disturbing emotions when he beheld her perfect tonneau and wonderful headlights； but he regarded her with a cautious fear。 Although he sometimes dreamed sentimentally of marriage in the abstract； of actual marriage； of marriage with a flesh…and…blood individual； of marriage that involved clergymen and 'Voices that Breathe o'er Eden；' and giggling bridesmaids and cake； Dudley Pickering was afraid with a terror that woke him sweating in the