by insulting me--my child,
like this? Damn him! I'll--"

"Stop, Sir Mark!" cried Guest firmly. "You don't know what you are
saying."

"What?"

"And I will not stand here and have my dear old friend and schoolfellow
insulted by such words."

"Insulted!" cried Sir Mark, with a harsh laugh; "insulted?"

"Yes, sir. Malcolm Stratton is the soul of honour--a gentleman who
would have laid down his life sooner than cause pain to the lady he
loves with all his heart."

"God bless you for that, Mr Guest!" cried Myra--catching the young
man's hand as she spoke--in a broken voice, which she fought hard to
render calm.

"Bah! Heroics! Come away, Myra. Of course he'll talk big for his
friend. But where is he? Why has he insulted us all like this?"

"Heaven only knows, sir," said Guest solemnly. "Forgive me for speaking
as I do before you, Mrs Barron, but at the cost of alarming you I must
take Malcolm's part. I saw him this morning at his chambers, ready
almost to come on. He placed Miss Perrin's telegram in my hands--about
the bouquet--and begged me to see to it at once--to take the flowers to
the hotel, and meet him at the church."

"Yes--yes!" cried Myra eagerly, and her large, dark eyes were dilated
strangely.

"I did not pay any heed to it then, for I attributed it to anxiety and
nervous excitement."

"What, Mr Guest?" cried Myra piteously.

"His appearance, Mrs Barron. There was a peculiar wild look in his
eyes, and his manner was strange and excited. Some seizure must have
been coming on."

"Yes, yes; it is that," said Myra hoarsely, and she hurriedly tore off
gloves, veil, and ornaments.

"He was quite well last night," said the admiral scornfully. "It was a
trick to get rid of you. I'll never believe but what it is all some
deeply laid plan."

"You do not know what you are saying, Sir Mark, or I would resent your
words. Mrs Barron, I will come back directly I obtain tidings of my
poor friend. You know him better than to think ill of him."

"Yes, yes," cried Myra, speaking firmly now, but in a low, hurried
murmur. "But stop, Mr Guest; stop!"

He turned sharply, for he was already at the door.

"Wait for me--only a few minutes. Edie--quick; help."

Her cousin flew to her side.

"Myra!" cried the admiral fiercely; "what are you going to do?"

"Change my dress," she said with unnatural calmness. "Go to him."

"What?"

"Where should I be but at his side?"

"Impossible, girl!