Dick looked up, surprised. Kate had put down her knife and fork and was pouring herself out a large glass of sherry. She was evidently going to work herself up into one of her rages. 'I assure you, my dear, I never intended to insult your religion; and I wish you wouldn't drink all that wine, it only excites you.' 'Excites me! What does it matter to you if I excite myself or not?' 'My dear Kate, this is very foolish of you. I don't see why--if you'll only listen to reason----' 'Listen to reason!' she said, spilling the sherry over the table, 'ah! it would have been better if I'd never listened to you.' 'You really mustn't drink any more wine; I can't allow it,' said Dick, passing his arm across her and trying to take away the decanter. This was the climax, and her pretty face curiously twisted, she screamed as she struggled away from him: 'Leave me go, will you! leave me go! Oh! I hate you!' Then clenching her teeth, and more savagely, 'No, I'll not be touched! No! no! no! I will not!' Dick was so astonished at this burst of passion that he loosed for a moment the arms he was holding, and profiting by the opportunity Kate seized him by the frizzly hair with one hand and dragged the nails of the other down his face. At this moment Montgomery entered; he stood aghast, and Kate, whose anger had now expended itself, burst into a violent fit of weeping. 'What does this mean?' Montgomery said, speaking very slowly. Neither answered. The man sought for words; the woman walked about the room swinging herself; and as she passed before him Montgomery stopped her and begged for an explanation. She gave him a swift look of grief, and breaking away from him, shut herself in the bedroom. 'What does this mean?' Dick looked round vaguely, astonished at the authoritative way the question was put, but without inquiring he answered: 'That's what I want to know. I never saw anything like it in my life. We were speaking of being married, when suddenly Kate accused me of insulting her religion, and then--well, I don't remember any more. She fell into such a passion--you saw it yourself.' 'Did you say you wouldn't marry her?' 'No, on the contrary. I can't make it out. For the last month her caprices, fancies, and jealousies have been something awful!' Montgomery made a movement as if he were going to reply, but checking himself, he remained silent. His face then assumed the settled appearance of one who is inwardly examining the different sides of a complex question. At last he said: 'Let's come out for a walk, Dick, and we'll talk the matter over.' 'Do you think I can leave her?' 'It's the best thing you can do. Leave her to have her cry out,' and adopting the suggestion, Dick picked up his hat, and without further words the men went out of the house, walking slowly arm in arm. 'I cannot understand what is the matter with Kate. When I knew her first she hadn't a bad temper.' To this Montgomery made no answer. He was thinking.