When the girl withdrew Roland turned, and bowing to the host, said:

'Your conduct and your tone, sir, towards myself are so extraordinary,
so inexplicable, and so unmerited, that there is nothing for me but to
withdraw. As for this person, Mr. Ham, whom you admit to terms of such
intimacy, nothing, I assure you, but the sacred shield of your
household could have saved him from the punishment which his insolence
deserves. However, he will not always be able to shelter himself by
these walls, and by the presence of the inmates. I bid you good
morning.' So saying he walked out of the room and into the garden
where sat Aster, flushed, nervous and miserable.

'I came to say good-bye, Aster; after all that has happened it is
impossible for me to remain.'

'I am sure,' the girl said, 'that Mr. Ham must have prejudiced my
father against you or he never would have adopted such language and
such a manner towards his guest. I feel quite certain that it was not
the swamp they were discussing while alone together this afternoon,
but your character. From what I surmise of Mr. Ham I believe him
capable of traducing you; of actually inventing charges against your
reputation.'

'Could he be so infamous? This is surely not possible.'

'But it is possible; and this is the man with whom my poor father,
who really has my interests at heart, would have me link my life. For
the past four years his wishes in this respect have been horribly
plain to me. Oh, it is very dreadful, Mr. Gray; and it will be still