"Or you'll unmask me, eh? You will tell all about the silly English teacher-girl who was _eprise_ of a swindling vagabond, and the mistress of whose school was so very correct as to discharge her without a character, will you? You'd like to get me turned out from here, the house of your rich country friends, would you?" she spoke rapidly and with intense bitterness. "Bah! I do not fear you, Allynne Markworth, any more than I do that baby-faced, idiot girl who has just left the room!" "What's the use of going on like that, Clara? Who said that I was going to injure you, or that you were afraid of me? By Jove! I know to my cost you're not. Why can't you be calm and look at things reasonably? You and I may be able to assist each other, and it's better for us to be friends than enemies." "I care as little for your enmity as I do for the valuable friendship you gave me formerly. There can be little in common between us. Besides, even if I had the inclination, I don't see how either you can help me, or I you." "But you can help me very much." "Ha! I thought you wanted something! No, there can be no accord between us. You are a man of the world, and I am, myself!" (here she laughed bitterly) "so let us each go our own way in peace or in war, just as you please--it's indifferent to me." "What nonsense!" said Markworth. "It is not indifferent to you. You can assist me here in this very house, and, if you do, it will be to your advantage." "Of course, you don't gain anything by it?" "If my scheme succeeds, you shall share the profits." "You will take the lion's share, I have no doubt! and if you fail?" "I alone will bear the loss." "How generous you are!" "Well, do you consent to join forces? is it settled? Am I to tell Mrs Hartshorne--how pleased she'll be to hear it!--the character of the governess she has got for her daughter, or are we to form an operative alliance!" "Markworth, you are a villain!" "Granted," he said, calmly. "Do you agree?" "I suppose I must," she replied. "You are not to interfere with me? and I--" "Will assist me to the best of your ability. That's a bargain; I thought you would be reasonable, Clara." "But what do you want me to do?" she asked, after a slight pause, fixing her eyes searchingly on his face. "It is nothing criminal. You will not have to commit yourself in any way. I don't want you to do anything, in fact; I only want you to keep in the background, and not spoil sport. Will you do it?" "Agreed," she answered. "And your grand scheme is--" "Marriage," he said, curtly. "Well, it won't be your first attempt in that way at all events! Of course, there's a fortune in view, or you would not try that speculation. But who's the lady--not me, I presume?" she enquired, with another of those short bitter laughs which sounded so strangely from her lips.