of honour to respect her wishes?"

"No!" answered Bryce. "I won't!"

"Why not?" asked Ransford, with a faint show of anger. "A
woman's wishes!"

"Because I may consider that I see signs of a changed mind in
her," said Bryce. "That's why."

"You'll never see any change of mind," declared Ransford.
"That's certain. Is that your fixed determination?"

"It is," answered Bryce. "I'm not the sort of man who is
easily repelled."

"Then, in that case," said Ransford, "we had better part
company." He rose from his desk, and going over to a safe
which stood in a corner, unlocked it and took some papers from
an inside drawer. He consulted one of these and turned to
Bryce. "You remember our agreement?" he continued. "Your
engagement was to be determined by a three months' notice on
either side, or, at my will, at any time by payment of three
months' salary?"

"Quite right," agreed Bryce. "I remember, of course."

"Then I'll give you a cheque for three months' salary--now,"
said Ransford, and sat down again at his desk. "That will
settle matters definitely--and, I hope, agreeably."