intolerable. She has not the hundred and one careers in life in which
individual distinction can obliterate the claims of station. She has but
one stage,--the _salon_; but, to her, this narrow world, soft-carpeted
and damask-curtained, is a very universe, and without the recognized
stamp of a certain rank in it, she is absolutely nothing."

"And may not all these things be bought too dearly, Marion?"

"I don't know the price I 'd call too high for them."

"What! Not your daily happiness? not your self-esteem! not the want of
the love of one who would have your whole heart in his keeping?"

"So he may, if he can give me the rank I care for."

"Oh, Marion! I cannot think this of you," cried he, bitterly.

"That is to say, that you want me to deceive you with false assurances
of unbought affection and the like; and you are angry because I will not
play the hypocrite. Lord Culduff has made me an offer of his hand, and
I have accepted it. You are aware that I am my own mistress. Whatever I
possess, it is absolutely my own; and though I intend to speak with my
father, and, if it may be, obtain his sanction, I will not say that his
refusal would induce me to break off my engagement."

"At all events, you are not yet this man's wife, Marion," said he, with
more determination than he had yet shown; "and I forbid you positively
to impart to Lord Culduff anything regarding this telegram."

"I make no promises."

"You may have no regard for the interests of your family, but possibly
you will care for some of your own," said he, fiercely. "Now, I tell
you distinctly, there are very grave perils hanging over us at
this moment,--perils of which I cannot measure the amount nor the
consequences. I can only dimly perceive the direction from which they
come; and I warn you, for your own sake, make no confidences beyond the
bounds of your own family."

"You are superbly mysterious, Gusty; and if I were impressionable on
this kind of matter, I half suspect you might terrify me. Papa ought to
have committed a forgery, at least, to justify your dark insinuations."

"There is no question of a forgery; but there may be that which, in the
end, will lead to a ruin as complete as any forgery."

"I know what you mean," said she, in a careless, easy tone. "The bank
has made use of private securities and title-deeds, just as those other
people did--I forget their names--a couple of years ago."

"It is not even that; but I repeat, the co