'Nothing? Do you call your intimate acquaintance with this man
nothing? He may have delayed any actual declaration until my return--
with an artful appearance of consideration for me; but some kind of
love-affair must have been going on between you all the time.'

'No, indeed, papa; until yesterday there was never anything but the
most ordinary acquaintance. Mary knows--'

'Pray don't appeal to Miss Crofton,' her father interrupted sternly.
'Miss Crofton has done very wrong in encouraging this affair. Miss
Crofton heard my opinion of Angus Egerton a long time ago.'

'Mary has done nothing to encourage our acquaintance. It has been
altogether a matter of accident from first to last. What have you
said to Mr. Egerton, papa? Tell me at once, please.'

She said this with a quiet firmness, looking bravely up at him all
the while.

'I have told him that nothing would induce me to consent to such a
marriage. I have forbidden him ever to see you again.'

'That seems very hard, papa.'

'I thought you knew my opinion of Mr. Egerton.'

'It would change if you knew more of him.'

'Never. I might like him very well as a member of society; I could