"And what?" asked Emmy, stonily.

"And then you can say you can't live with me any longer. You couldn't stand
me. I don't think any woman could. Only Wiggleswick could put up with my
ways."

Emmy passed her hands across her eyes. She was somewhat dazed.

"You would give me your name--and shield me--just like that!" Her voice
quavered.

"It isn't much to give. It's so short," he remarked absently. "I've always
thought it such a silly name."

"You would tie yourself for life to a girl who has disgraced herself, just
for the sake of shielding her?"

"Why, it's done every day," said Septimus.

"Is it? Oh, God! You poor innocent!" and she broke down again.

"There, there," said Septimus kindly, patting her shoulder. "It's all
settled, isn't it? We can get married by special license--quite soon. I've
read of it in books. Perhaps the Hall Porter can tell me where to get one.
Hall Porters know everything. Then we can write to Zora and tell her it was
a runaway match. It's the easiest thing in the world. I'll go and see after
it now."

He left her prostrate on the sofa, her heart stone cold, her body lapped in
flame from feet to hair. It was not given to him to know her agony of