has hurt me to keep silent as long as I have done already."

He saw the hardening of Hetty's lips, and knew that he had blundered; but
he was committed now, and could only obey when she said, with a gesture of
weariness "Then go on."

The abrupt command would probably have disconcerted most men and
effectually spoiled the appeal they meant to make, and Clavering's face
flushed as he recognized its ludicrous aspect. Still, he could not
withdraw then, and he made the best of a difficult position with a certain
gracefulness which might, under different circumstances, have secured him
a modicum of consideration. As it was, however, Hetty's anger left her
almost white, and there was a light he did not care to see in her eyes
when she turned towards him.

"I am glad you have told me this," she said. "Since nothing else would
convince you, it will enable me to talk plainly; I don't consider it an
honour--not in the least. Can't you see that it is wholly and altogether
out of the question that I should ever think in that way of you?"

Clavering gasped, and the darker colour that was in his cheek showed in
his forehead too. Hetty reminded him very much of her father, then--and he
had witnessed one or two displays of the cattle-baron's temper.

"I admit that I have a good many shortcomings, but, since you ask, I must
confess that I don't quite understand why my respectful offer should rouse
your indignation."

"No?" said Hetty coldly, with the vindictive sparkle still in her eyes.
"Then aren't you very foolish?"

Clavering smiled, though it was not easy. "Well," he said, "I was
evidently too audacious; but you have not told me yet why the proposal I
ventured to make should appear quite preposterous."

"I think," said Hetty, "it would be considerably nicer for you if I
didn't. I can, however, tell you this--I would never, under any
circumstances, marry you."

Clavering bent his head, and took himself away with the best grace he
could, while Hetty, who, perhaps because she had been under a heavy
strain, became suddenly sensible of a most illogical desire to laugh,
afterwards admitted that he really accomplished it becomingly. But the
laughter that would have been a relief to her did not come, and after
toying in a purposeless fashion with her writing-case, she rose and
slipped out of the room, unfortunately leaving it open.

A few minutes later Clavering met the maid in the corridor that led to
Torrance's room, and the