Something of regret came over his spirit as he thought of a father-in-law disgraced and degraded, and of his own father broken-hearted.

But now there was hardly an alternative left to him.
And was it not the manly thing for him to do?
He had loved the girl before this trouble had come upon her, and was he not bound to accept the burden which his love had brought with it?
"I will see her," he said, "at once, if you will let me, and ask her to be my wife.

But I must see her alone." Then Miss Prettyman paused.

Hitherto she had undoubtedly been playing her fish cautiously, or rather her young friend's fish,--perhaps I may say cunningly.

She had descended to artifice on behalf of the girl whom she loved, admired, and pitied.