o be
revenged. I laughed at you. I advised you to be anything rather than
dramatic. I never imagined the possibility of your threatened revenge
taking the form of your marriage. Well, my dear, you have your revenge,
I admit; but in your blindness, you could not see that revenge itself
might be met by retribution! One man kills another for revenge, and does
not, in his blind fury, see the gallows looming in the distance."

"What do you mean? You cannot hang me for marrying your father,"
exclaimed Rose.

"No; don't raise your voice, or you may be heard. No, Rose, I cannot
hang you for treachery; but, my dear, there are worse fates than neat
and tidy hanging, which is over in a few minutes. I could expose your
past life to my father. You know him, and you know that he would show no
ruth, no mercy to deception and treachery such as yours. You know that
he would turn you out of the house without money or character, destitute
and degraded. What then would be your fate at your age--a fading rose
past thirty-seven years old? Sooner or later, and very little later, the
poor-house or the hospital. Better a sweet, tidy little hanging and be
done with it, if possible."

"You are a fiend to talk to me so! a fiend! Fabian Rockharrt," exclaimed
Rose, bursting into hysterical sobs and tears.

"Now, be quiet, my child; you'll raise the house, and then there will be
an explosion."

"I don't care if there will be. You are cruel, savage, barbarous! I
never meant to do any harm by marrying Mr. Rockharrt. I never meant to
be revenged on you or anybody. I only said so because I was so excited
by your desertion of me. I married the old gentleman for a refuge from
the world. I meant to do my duty by him, though he is as cross as a bear
with a bruised head. But do your worst; I don't care. I would just as
lief die as live. I am tired of trying to be good; tired of trying to
please people; tired, oh, very tired of living!"

"Come, come," said soft-hearted Mr. Fabian; "none of that nonsense.
Place yourself in my hands, to be guided by me and to work for my
interests, and none of these evils shall happen to you. You shall live
and die in wealth and luxury, my father's honored wife, the mistress of
Rockhold."

He spoke slowly, tenderly, caressingly, and as she listened to him her
sobs and tears subsided and she grew calmer.

"What is it you want me to do for you? What can I do for you, indeed,
powerless as I am?" she inquired at last.

"