“Yes,” said Grace frankly.  “I think he was tempted; I was glad you came.”

“After all, a hint that he’d better be prudent did not cost me much.  You know I’d do more than that to help you.”

“You did all that was necessary,” Grace replied.  “You have my thanks.”

Thorn glanced at her keenly, but there was something chilling in her calm.

“Well, I’m going to London in a day or two and it might be advisable to look Gerald up.  I will, if you like.”

“Yes,” said Grace.  “If it doesn’t give you much trouble.”

She left him and Thorn stood still, frowning.  Grace was always like that, friendly but elusive.  No matter how he tried, he could not break down her reserve.

CHAPTER VI

THORN MAKES A PLAN

Thorn went up to town and one evening loitered about the hall of his club.  London rather bored him, but he went there now and then, because he felt one ought to keep in touch with things.  It was, in a sense, one’s duty to know what was going on, and the news he picked up helped him to look well informed.  Thorn had not much imagination, but he was cautious, calculating, and generally saw where his advantage lay.  His small estate was managed well, in general his tenants liked him, and his investments were sound.  Nevertheless, he was dissatisfied; he had waited long for Grace Osborn, and feared that in spite of her father’s approval he got no nearer her.

Alan Thorn was not romantic but his love for Grace was, to some extent, a generous emotion.  He knew Osborn’s poverty, and it was plain that if he married Grace he might have to help him out of his embarrassments.  He was fond of money and had grounds for imagining that the daughter of a rich neighbor would not refuse him; but he wanted Grace and saw he could not wait much longer.  He was fastidious about his clothes, and their color and loose cut prevented people remarking that he was getting fat; his dark hair was carefully brushed.  He knew, however, that he was getting heavier fast and that he would soon be bald.

He had meant to go out, but had no particular object and the streets were hot; besides, after the quiet country, he liked the bustle in the hall.  People were beginning to come in and one could see the crowd stream past the glass doors.  Sitting down in a corner he began to muse.  Although he had been in town some time, he had not seen Gerald.  He had called at the latter’s lodgings and found him not at home, while when he went to the bank he was told that Gerald had been sent to manage a small branch office.  Thorn thought it strange that Osborn had said nothing about this and wondered whether he knew.  Gerald was extravagant and much less frank than he looked; he might have had an object for hiding his promotion.  Thorn understood that Osborn made him some allowance, but it was hard to see how the young man was able to belong to his rather expensive club.