y did know, that
there was no longer any hope for him. It was not on the cards that he
should win. But there remained one thing that he must do. He must get
himself out of that room; and how was he to effect that?

"I had hoped," said he, looking at Alice, though he addressed Lady
Glencora--"I had hoped to be allowed to speak to you alone for a few
minutes."

"No, Mr Fitzgerald; it cannot be so. Alice do not go. I sent for my
cousin when I saw you, because I did not choose to be alone with you.
I have asked you to go--"

"You perhaps have not understood me?"

"I understand you well enough."

"Then, Mr Fitzgerald," said Alice, "why do you not do as Lady
Glencora has asked you? You know--you must know, that you ought not
to be here."

"I know nothing of the kind," said he, still standing his ground.

"Alice," said Lady Glencora, "we will leave Mr Fitzgerald here, since
he drives us from the room."

In such contests, a woman has ever the best of it at all points. The
man plays with a button to his foil, while the woman uses a weapon
that can really wound. Burgo knew that he must go,--felt that he
must skulk away as best he might, and perhaps hear a low titter of
half-suppressed laughter as he went. Even that might be possible.
"No, Lady Glencora," he said, "I will not drive you from the room.
As one must be driven out, it shall be I. I own I did think that you
would at any rate have been--less hard to me." He then turned to go,
bowing again very slightly to Miss Vavasor.

He was on the threshold of the door before Glencora's voice recalled
him. "Oh my God!" she said, "I am hard,--harder than flint. I am
cruel. Burgo!" And he was back with her in a moment, and had taken
her by the hand.

"Glencora," said Alice, "pray,--pray let him go. Mr Fitzgerald, if
you are a man, do not take advantage of her folly."

"I will speak to him," said Lady Glencora. "I will speak to him,
and then he shall leave me." She was holding him by the hand now
and turning to him, away from Alice, who had taken her by the arm.
"Burgo," she said, repeating his name twice again, with all the
passion that she could throw into the word,--"Burgo, no good can come
of this. Now, you must leave me. You must go. I shall stay with my
husband as I am bound to do. Because I have wronged you, I will not
wrong him also. I loved you;--you know I loved you." She still held
him by the hand, and was now gazing up into his face, while the tears
were strea