She saw how he was moved, and she
tried to comfort him.
"You think Junia will resent it all? . . . But that isn't what a girl
does when she loves. You have done no wrong; your hands are clean."
"But I must tell her all. Tarboe is richer, he has an honest birth, he
is a big man and will be bigger still. She likes him, she--"
"She will go to you without a penny, my son."
"It will be almost without a penny, if you don't live," he said with a
faint smile. "I can't paint--for a time anyhow. I can't earn money for
a time. I've only my salary as a Member of Parliament and the little
that's left of my legacy; therefore, I must draw on you. And I don't
seem to mind drawing upon you; I never did."
She smiled with an effort. "If I can help you, I shall justify living
on."
CHAPTER XXX
TARBOE HAS A DREAM
The day Carnac was elected it was clear to Tarboe that he must win Junia
at once, if he was ever to do so, for Carnac's new honours would play a
great part in influencing her. In his mind, it was now or never for
himself; he must bring affairs to a crisis.
Junia's father was poor, but the girl had given their home an air of
comfort and an art belonging to larger spheres. The walls were covered
with brown paper, and on it were a few of her own water-colour drawings,
and a few old engravings of merit. Chintz was the cover on windows and
easy chairs, and in a corner of the parlour was a chintz-covered lounge
where she read of an evening.
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