you. Oh yes, I do her justice; I don't deny that she's
devoted to me, as you say. But I am making a clean breast of it now.
And you ought to know, and you shall know, that Mr. Farnaby's living
consolation is no more a consolation to me than the things you have seen
in the drawers. There! now we've done with Regina. No: there's one thing
more to be cleared up. When you say you admire her, what do you mean? Do
you mean to marry her?"

For once in his life Amelius stood on his dignity. "I have too much
respect for the young lady to answer your question," he said loftily.

"Because, if you do," Mrs. Farnaby proceeded, "I mean to put every
possible obstacle in your way. In short, I mean to prevent it."

This plain declaration staggered Amelius. He confessed the truth by
implication in one word.

"Why?" he asked sharply.

"Wait a little, and recover your temper," she answered.

There was a pause. They sat, on either side of the fireplace, and eyed
each other attentively.

"Now are you ready?" Mrs. Farnaby resumed. "Here is my reason. If you
marry Regina, or marry anybody, you will settle down somewhere, and lead
a dull life."

"Well," said Amelius; "and why not, if I like it?"

"Because I want you to remain a roving bachelor; here today and gone
tomorrow--travelling all over the world, and seeing everything and
everybody."

"What good will that do to _you,_ Mrs. Farnaby?"

She rose from her own side of the fireplace, crossed to the side on
which Amelius was sitting, and, standing before him, placed her hands
heavily on his shoulders. Her eyes grew radiant with a sudden interest
and animation as they looked down on him, riveted on his face.

"I am still waiting, my friend, for the living consolation that may yet
come to me," she said. "And, hear this, Amelius! After all the years
that have passed, you may be the man who brings it to me."

In the momentary silence that followed, they heard a double knock at the
house-door.

"Regina!" said Mrs. Farnaby.

As the name passed her lips, she sprang to the door of the room, and
turned the key in the lock.

CHAPTER 2

Amelius rose impulsively from his chair.

Mrs. Farnaby turned at the same moment, and signed to him to resume his
seat. "You have given me your promise," she whispered. "All I ask of you
is to be silent." She softly drew the key out of the door, and showed it
to him. "You can't get out," she said, "unless you take the key from me
by force!"