"Yes, I probably am going on Service, Mr. Lloyd," answered the young man, quickly, and with a glance at the girl that seemed to indicate that this subject was only to be lightly dealt with at present. "When, I am not sure. Then I shall get my pay as a Flight-Lieutenant, you see. Shan't want any money much, then. So _she_"--with a little nod towards the small, defensively set face of Gwenna, sitting very straight in the other red-plush armchair--"she will get that sent home, to her."
"_I_ shan't want all your pay, indeed," interrupted the girl, hastily. It seemed to her too revoltingly horrible, this talk about money combined with this sense that a woman, married, must be an _expense_, a burden. A woman, who longs to mean only freedom and gifts and treasure to her lover!
"Oh, a woman ought never, _never_ to feel she has to be _kept_," thought Gwenna, rosy again with embarrassment. "If men don't think we _mind_, very well, then let all the money in the world be taken away from men, and given to us. Let _them_ be kept. And if they don't mind it--well, then it will be a happier world, all round!"
And as she was thinking this, she announced eagerly, "If--if you _do_ go away, I shall stay on with the Aeroplane Lady, as I told you, Paul. Yes. I'd _much_ rather I should have something to do. And I'd get nearly a pound a week, and my keep. Besides! I've got my own money."
The quick eyes of the Reverend Hugh had not left the young man's face.
They were fixed still more scrutinisingly upon it as the old man interposed, "Do you mean to tell me, Mr. Dampier, that you were not aware that my niece had got a little bit of her own?"
"There! I _knew_ Uncle would say that!" burst out the young girl, angry and blushing and ashamed. "I knew he'd say you were only marrying me because of that! _He_ won't believe that it wouldn't make any difference to you that I've got seventy-five pounds a year!"
"Seventy-five pounds a year? _Have_ you?" said the young man, surprised. "Really?"
And it was Gwenna's turn to be surprised as his frank face cleared and his voice took a very relieved note.
"I say, how topping! Make no difference to me? But it does. Rather!" he declared. "Don't you see that I shall know you won't _have_ to work, and that I shall be ever so much more comfortable about you? Why did you never tell me?"