She sobbed, she 'went on,' she entreated; after we got talking her extraordinary nerve left her and she showed me what she has been through--showed me also all her terror of the harm I could do her.

'Wait till I'm married! wait till I'm married!' She took hold of me, she almost sank on her knees.

It seems to me highly immoral, one's participation in her fraud; but there's no doubt that she must be married: I don't know what I don't see behind it! Therefore," I wound up, "Dawling must keep his hands off." Mrs.Meldrum had held her breath; she gave out a long moan.

"Well, that's exactly what I came here to tell him." "Then here he is." Our host, all unprepared, his latchkey still in his hand, had just pushed open the door and, startled at finding us, turned a frightened look from one to the other, wondering what disaster we were there to announce or avert.
Mrs.Meldrum was on the spot all gaiety.

"I've come to return your sweet visit.