'I should think it the height of folly, unless I were his selection.' 'Come to him now. Say to him that you love me, and that I love you, and that he may kill me if he likes, but that I will never marry anybody else.' 'This is encouraging.' 'And you will need courage.' 'What is wrong?' 'You'll know soon enough. Come.' And she led him to the house. She danced along the path. Her eyes clashed against his. 'I'm in the major key,' she said. No wonder she was in the major key. She had a vision of the encounter between her lover and her father; a wordy tournament in which the former bore off the honours. Her heart was fast melting down every feeling into a glowing rage at the man who, after ten years' absence, came to blight her life; and her body, the flames about that crucible, leapt and trembled. She could move only in bounds to a measure. Frank, mystified, but flushed by sympathy, followed her, admiring. She took him straight to the library. Lee was not there. 'Wait here, and I shall find my father,' she said. But Miss Jane came into the room. 'How in the name of all the proprieties dare you enter this house, sir?' she cried. Frank, as the reader will surmise, had been forbidden the house. Muriel sat down on the couch and pulled her lover to her side. Then she rested her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, and looked at her aunt. It was grossly impertinent. 'For shame! What is the meaning of this folly, Muriel?' and the angry lady crossed the floor, and bristled before the couple with only a yard between. Muriel became absolutely but serenely rabid. 'Mr. Hay is going to take supper with us to-night,' she said. 'Ring the bell please, aunt, and order supper to be hastened.' Miss Jane towered, physically and morally. 'Muriel'--she spoke solemnly, as became her exaltation--'you wicked girl! You have much greater cause to keep your room and cry over your misdemeanours, than come here outraging all decency in this way. Have you no maidenly reserve at all?' Then she leant towards Frank. 'Mr. Hay, I should think this exhibition of temper and impudence will make it needless to fear that you will aid further in thwarting our intentions with regard to Muriel. Indeed, I don't know at present how it will be possible for me to stand by quietly and see any young man, however eligible, throw himself away on such an incorrigible young woman.' Thoroughly on fire at the imperturbable smile on Muriel's face, she leaned towards her again, a flaming tower of Pisa. 'Muriel, if ever you wish to regain the place you have lost in my esteem, you will tell Mr. Hay to leave this house at once, and never enter it again.' Muriel fumbled in her pocket, and half-withdrew her hand, but thought better of it. Miss Jane again menaced Frank.