"Do you suppose I require to be told _that_? Mr Trent was speaking, and he was saying things which you should be ashamed of anyone having the power of saying," said Mr Thornton, angrily. "Excuse me. Not of any one. The force of an accusation altogether depends upon who makes it," said Jack, with a haughty look at the other. "If you will allow me, Mr Thornton," said Trent rising, "I will wish you good-night. Your nephew would naturally prefer to offer his explanations alone with you. I exceedingly regret my own rashness of speech." "Stop, sir!" said Mr Thornton, bringing down his closed fist on his knees with a thump. "I manage matters in my own house in my own way. Let me hear what you have to say, and let me hear what he has to say, and then I shall know something of where we all are." "You must make allowances for my feeling sore," said Oliver, still apologetically, "as the other lady to whom I alluded is my promised wife." "Now is that the truth or a lie?" reflected Ibbetson. "If it's the truth I had better have left the matter alone." "Do you mean that he tried to make her jilt you, while he himself jilted Phillis Grey?" demanded Mr Thornton strongly. All Jack's indifference was shaken. He stepped forward, drawing himself up to his full height, and his face was resolute and stern. "I see no use in dragging Miss Grey's name into this discussion," he said, with a determination which impressed his uncle in spite of himself; "but since you and Mr Trent have done so, you will be good enough to understand that the facts have not been correctly represented. At the time of which he speaks, he was certainly not engaged to Miss Capponi, and as for my acting towards Miss Grey as you suppose, though I am perhaps a fool, I am not such an utter fool as that would prove me. That is sufficient for to-night, I think. Good-night, Uncle Peter," and he marched out of the room, with his head rather high, and without a glance at Oliver. No one stopped him; his uncle would have liked to have done so, but was not sure that in his present mood he would have attended to his wishes. Mr Thornton looked after the young fellow with an anger that was partly envy. Trent got up. "I regret this very much," he said in his soft tone. "He made an uncalled-for attack upon me, and I lost my temper and retaliated, without knowing that you were present." "Didn't you see me?" said Mr Thornton simply. "Well, what you said explained a good deal. I never believed Phillis would have set all my wishes aside." Then, as Trent remained silent, he went on--"However, they both of them know the alternative. When I have made up my mind I don't change." "No, you have an enviable force of determination. I believe it to be the secret of your success."