u are more than a match for me that way," he panted. "But there are
other ways, my friend, of wiping that blow out. Look to yourself."

There was a deadly menace in the threat, so that Beatrice shuddered as
she watched the retreating figure. She knew perfectly well that that
blow would not be forgotten. Mark laughed as he heard, then his face
changed and he sighed.

"What does it all mean, Beatrice?" he asked. "For that man to lay hands
upon you and so soon after you are--but I cannot bring myself to say the
word."

"He was not altogether without excuse, Mark," Beatrice said. "We have
come to an understanding. Never shall I stay under the same roof with
Stephen Richford."

"Well, thank God for that," Mark said fervently. "Something unexpected
has happened!"

In a few words Beatrice told the story to which Mark listened with vivid
interest. An expression of the deepest disgust came over his face as
Beatrice finished her story and handed over the telegram. At the same
time the feeling nearest her heart was one of relief.

"It was the act of a scoundrel, darling," he said. "And yet things might
have been worse. For instance, you might not have found that telegram.
But since you have done so, the game is all in your hands. You are quite
right to defy that fellow and refuse to live with him. He dare not
oppose you, Beatrice. Thank Heaven, I shall be able to think of you as
pure and free from contamination. But what are you going to do?"

"I have not thought of that yet," Beatrice said with a faint smile. "For
a day or two I shall get the Rashboroughs to give me a home. When my
father's affairs come to be settled up there will be a little less than
nothing for me to have. Still, I have some jewels which may bring me in
a few hundred pounds. But I shall find something to do."

Mark shut his teeth tightly together to keep back the protestations of
love that rose to his lips. It was no time to speak of that kind of
thing. He felt that he had been tricked out of the only girl for whom he
had ever cared, but, thank goodness, he would not have to think of her
as dragging out a lengthening chain by the side of Stephen Richford. And
Beatrice would find something to do--of that he felt certain.

"I will come and see you in a few days, dearest," he said. "Though you
are bound to that man by the cruel sport of chance, you still belong to
me. There can be no harm in my helping you. And may God bless and keep
you wherever you go