can despise, or deplore, or condemn that act more
than I do; so that rather than yield a single point to you, I am, if
necessary, ready to face the odium which the public knowledge of it might
produce. What I had intended to do for you in the way of compensation
for false hopes raised to you by that act has now been done. That it was
done by my aunt on my behalf, and not by me, matters to you no more than
it did to your creditors, who, when they received the money, made no
complaint of injury to their feelings on that account.

'Now, when you think the whole matter over in quietness, you will,
knowing that I am ready at any time to face if necessary the unpleasant
publicity, be able to estimate what damage you would do to yourself by
any expose. It seems to me that you would come out of it pretty badly
all round. That, however, is not my affair; it entirely rests with
yourself. I think I know how women would regard it. I dare say you best
know how men would look at it; and at you!'

Leonard knew already how the only man who knew of it had taken it, and
the knowledge did not reassure him!

'You jade! You infernal, devilish, cruel, smooth-tongued jade!' He
stood as bespoke. She stood too, and stood watching him with her hand on
the gong. After a pause of a couple of seconds she said gravely:

'One other thing I should wish to say, and I mean it. Understand me
clearly, that I mean it! You must not come again into my grounds without
my special permission. I shall not allow my liberty to be taken away, or
restricted, by you. If there be need at any time to come to the house,
come in ceremonious fashion, by the avenues which are used by others. You
can always speak to me in public, or socially, in the most friendly
manner; as I shall hope to be able to speak to you. But you must never
transgress the ordinary rules of decorum. If you do, I shall have to
take, for my own protection, another course. I know you now! I am
willing to blot out the past; but it must be the whole past that is wiped
out!'

She stood facing him; and as he looked at her clear-cut aquiline face,
her steady eyes, her resolute mouth, her carriage, masterly in its self-
possessed poise, he saw that there was no further hope for him. There
was no love and no fear.

'You devil!' he hissed.

She struck the gong; her aunt entered the room.

'Oh, is that you, Auntie? Mr. Everard has finished his business with
me!' Then to the serva