exactly as if I had been a hireling. She is your sister, but Lord
deliver me from such a woman. Well, what's the use denying it--she is
part of my premonition. You may settle your business troubles
satisfactorily, but if--if you should tell her about me, she will move
heaven and earth to convince you that I am unworthy of your notice."

"Nonsense!" he began; but with a sad little shake of the head she
hurried away.

Left alone, Mostyn's heart sank into the lowest ebb of despair. Back
and forth he strode, trying to shake off his despondency, but it lay
on him like the weight of a mountain. What would the morrow bring
forth? To him his sister's objections would be the very least. The
real disaster lay in the matter Dolly's pure mind could not have
grasped. He took out the letter Saunders had brought and read it
again.

"She is simply desperate--the little cat!" he cried. "I might have
known she would turn on me. For the last three months she has been 'a
woman scorned,' and she is not going to be easily put aside. Fool,
fool that I was, and always have been, I deserve it! It may ruin me--
men have been ruined by smaller things than this. Can this be the
beginning of my end?" He sank into the chair Dolly had vacated and
rocked back and forth. Suddenly he had a sort of inspiration.

"I might take the midnight train," he reflected. "Why, yes, I could do
that, and have my trunk sent on to-morrow. In that case I'd avoid
riding back with Saunders and be there early in the morning. Surely
she will be quiet that long."