She will be safer here than she can be abroad,--unless she should choose to go back with her father to the islands." "And take the boy ?" "No;--I could not permit that.

What I intend is this.

I will give her L800 a year, as long as I have reason to believe that she has no communication whatever, either by word of mouth or by letter, with that man.

If she does, I will put the case immediately into the hands of my lawyer, with instructions to him to ascertain from counsel what severest steps I can take." "How I hate that word severe, when applied to a woman." "I dare say you do,--when applied to another man's wife.

But there will be no severity in my first proposition.