That morning, and many mornings both before and afterwards, were spent by Laura at the New Hall examining the treasures of the museum, playing with the thousand toys which Haw had collected, or sallying out from the smoking-room in the crystal into the long line of hot-houses. Haw would walk beside her as she flitted from one thing to another like a butterfly among flowers, watching her out of the corner of his eyes, and taking a quiet pleasure in her delight. The only joy which his costly possessions had ever brought him was that which came from the entertainment of others.  
By this time his attentions towards Laura McIntyre had become so marked that they could hardly be mistaken. He visibly brightened in her presence, and was never weary of devising a thousand methods of surprising and pleasing her. Every morning ere the McIntyre family were afoot a great of strange and beautiful flowers was brought down by a footman from the Hall to brighten their breakfast-table. Her slightest wish, however fantastic, was instantly satisfied, if human money or could do it. When the frost lasted a stream was dammed and turned from its course that it might flood two meadows, in order that she might have a place upon which to skate. With the there came a every afternoon with a and beautiful in case Miss McIntyre should care to ride. Everything went to show that she had made a conquest of the of the New Hall.
 
And she on her side played her part admirably. With female adaptiveness she fell in with his humour, and looked at the world through his eyes. Her talk was of almshouses and free libraries, of charities and of improvements. He had never a scheme to which she could not add some detail making it more complete and more effective. To Haw it seemed that at last he had met a mind which was in absolute with his own. Here was a help-mate, who could not only follow, but even lead him in the path which he had chosen.
 
Neither Robert nor his father could fail to see what was going forward, but to the latter nothing could possibly be more acceptable than a family tie which should connect him, however , with a man of vast fortune. The of the gold bags had crept over Robert also, and froze the upon his lips. It was very pleasant to have the handling of all this wealth, even as a agent. Why should he do or say what might disturb their present happy relations? It was his sister's business, not his; and as to Hector Spurling, he must take his chance as other men did. It was obviously best not to move one way or the other in the matter.
 
But to Robert himself, his work and his surroundings were becoming more and more irksome. His joy in his art had become less keen since he had known Raffles Haw. It seemed so hard to and slave to earn such a sum, when money could really be had for the asking. It was true that he had asked for none, but large sums were for ever passing through his hands for those who were , and if he were needy himself his friend would surely not it to him. So the Roman still remained faintly outlined upon the great canvas, while Robert's days were spent either in the luxurious library at the Hall, or in strolling about the country listening to tales of trouble, and returning like a tweed-suited ministering angel to carry Raffles Haw's help to the unfortunate. It was not an ambitious life, but it was one which was very congenial to his weak and easy-going nature.
 
Robert had observed that fits of depression had frequently come upon the millionaire, and it had sometimes struck him that the enormous sums which he spent had possibly made a serious inroad into his capital, and that his mind was troubled as to the future. His abstracted manner, his clouded brow, and his head all of a soul which was weighed down with care, and it was only in Laura's presence that he could throw off the load of his secret trouble. For five hours a day he buried himself in the laboratory and amused himself with his hobby, but it was one of his that no one, neither any of his servants, nor even Laura or Robert, should ever cross the threshold of that outlying building. Day after day he vanished into it, to reappear hours afterwards pale and , while the whirr of and the smoke which streamed from his high chimney showed how considerable were the operations which he undertook single-handed.
 
“Could I not assist you in any way?” suggested Robert, as they sat together after in the smoking-room. “I am convinced that you over-try your strength. I should be so glad to help you, and I know a little of chemistry.”
 
“Do you, indeed?” said Raffles Haw, raising his . “I had no idea of that; it is very seldom that the and the scientific go together.”
 
“I don't know that I have either particularly developed. But I have taken classes, and I worked for two years in the laboratory at Sir Josiah Mason's Institute.”
 
“I am delighted to hear it,” Haw replied with emphasis. “That may be of great importance to us. It is very possible—indeed, almost certain—that I shall avail myself of your offer of assistance, and teach you something of my chemical methods, which I may say differ from those of the orthodox school. The time, however, is hardly ripe for that. What is it, Jones?”
 
“A note, sir.”
 
The butler handed it in upon a silver salver. Haw broke the seal and ran his eye over it.
 
“Tut! tut! It is from Lady Morsley, asking me to the Lord-Lieutenant's ball. I cannot possibly accept. It is very kind of them, but I do wish they would leave me alone. Very well, Jones. I shall write. Do you know, Robert, I am often very unhappy.”
 
He frequently called the young artist by his name, especially in his more moments.
 
“I have sometimes feared that you were,” said the other sympathetically. “But how strange it seems, you who are yet young, healthy, with every for , and a millionaire.”
 
“Ah, Robert,” cried Haw, leaning back in his chair, and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. “You have put your finger upon my trouble. If I were a millionaire I might be happy, but, , I am no millionaire!”
 
“Good heavens!” Robert.
 
Cold seemed to shoot to his inmost soul as it flashed upon him that this was a to a of , and that all this glorious life, all the excitement and the colour and change, were about to vanish into thin air.
 
“No millionaire!” he .
 
“No, Robert; I am a billionaire—perhaps the only one in the world. That is what is on my mind, and why I am unhappy sometimes. I feel that I should spend this money—that I should put it in circulation—and yet it is so hard to do it without failing to do good—without doing positive harm. I feel my responsibility deeply. It weighs me down. Am I in continuing to live this quiet life when there are so many millions whom I might save and comfort if I could but reach them?”
 
Robert heaved a long sigh of relief. “Perhaps you take too grave a view of your responsibilities,” he said. “Everybody knows that the good which you have done is immense. What more could you desire? If you really wished to extend your further, there are organised charities everywhere which would be very glad of your help.”
 
“I have the names of two hundred and seventy of them,” Haw answered. “You must run your eye over them some time, and see if you can suggest any others. I send my annual to each of them. I don't think there is much room for expansion in that direction.”
 
“Well, really you have done your share, and more than your share. I would settle down to lead a happy life, and think no more of the matter.”
 
“I could not do that,” Haw answered earnestly. “I have not been singled out to this immense power simply in order that I might lead a happy life. I can never believe that. Now, can you not use your imagination, Robert, and devise ............