ng
with rage. "Don't you, or won't you, understand that you are the cause
of getting Nidia talked about? You! And I won't have it. Indeed,
under the circumstances, your acquaintance with Miss Commerell had
better cease. She is in my charge, remember."

"Yes. But she is not a child. I should first like to hear Miss
Commerell's own views in the matter; indeed, shall do so before deciding
on whether to fall in with yours or not, and so I tell you frankly, Mrs
Bateman. Of course this is your house, and I need hardly say I shall
visit it no more."

"One moment. I have not quite done," she went on, for he had risen to
go. "Again you must forgive me for plain-speaking; but let me advise
you, as a friend, to entertain no hopes that can only end in
disappointment. You are probably aware that Miss Commerell's father is
a very wealthy man, and therefore you will not be surprised to learn
that he has mapped out a brilliant future for his only daughter."

The speaker was alive to the slight stirring of dismay that passed like
a ripple over the countenance of her hearer. She knew him well enough
to be sure that the bolt had gone home, and at heart secretly respected
him. In making this statement she had thrown her king of trumps.

"It is very painful for me to be obliged to speak like this, Mr Ames,"
she went on, deftly infusing a little less acerbity into her tone,
"especially when _I_ think of all you have done for Miss Commerell
throughout a time of terrible danger. But as to this, you will
certainly not find her people ungrateful; you may take my assurance as
to that. Let me see. You have resigned your appointment, have you not?
At least, so I have been told."

She paused. She had thrown her ace.

John Ames, his face white to the lips with this culminating outrage,
replied--

"Pardon me if I decline to discuss my own private affairs with anybody,
Mrs Bateman. For the rest, there is a pitch of perfection in
everything, even in the art of plain-speaking, and perfection in that
art I must congratulate you on having attained. Good morning!"

He bowed and left the house, with, at any rate, all the honours of war
on his side; and this she could not but recognise, feeling rather small
and uncomfortable as she looked after his retreating figure. But she
had thrown her ace of trumps, anyway.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"How will you face the parting of the ways