'I do not judge you, father, nor mother either. It is not for me to judge. I am ignorant of the world and wish to remain ignorant of it. I always felt that it would be best so, now I am sure of it.' 'Agnes, it is too soon for you to judge. This house--' 'She's gone to meet that man; but she shall not. She shall not! I swear it! ... That man, I'll take him by the throat. I ought to have done so long ago; but it is not too late.' 'Father, let us say a prayer together; I have not said one with you since I was a little child. Will you kneel down with me and say a prayer for mother?' She stretched out her hand to him, and they knelt down together in the drawing-room. Agnes said: 'Oh, my God, we offer up an our Our Father and Hail Mary that thou may'st give us all grace to overcome temptation.' The Major repeated the prayers after his daughter, and, when they rose from their knees, Agnes said: 'Father, I never asked a favour of you before. You'll not refuse me this?' The Major looked at his daughter tenderly. 'You will never again be violent. You promise me this, father. I shall be miserable if you don't. You promise me this, father? You cannot refuse me. It is my first request and my last.' The Major's face was full of tears. There were none on Agnes' face; but her eyes shone with anticipation and desire. 'Promise,' she said, 'promise.' 'I promise.' 'And when the temptation comes you'll remember your promise to me?' 'Yes, Agnes, I'll remember.' The strain that the extortion of the promise had put upon her feelings had exhausted the girl; she then pressed her hands to her eyes and dropped on the ottoman. For a long while father and daughter sat opposite each other without speaking. At last the Major said: 'I must go out; I cannot stop here.' 'But, father, remember... you are not going to mother.' 'No; only for a trot round the Square.' She pressed her hand to her forehead; she felt her eyes, they were dry and burning; and it was not until the servant announced Father White that her tears flowed. VI. 'Then you've heard,' said Agnes, coming forward and taking the priest's hand. 'How did you hear? Did you meet father?' 'No, my dear child, I've heard nothing. I did not meet your father. I was in London to-day for the first time since I last saw you. I ought to have called earlier, but I was detained.... I'm afraid I'm late, it must be getting late. It must be getting near your dinner hour.' 'I see that you know nothing, and that I shall have to tell you all.' 'Yes, my dear child, tell me everything.' Agnes sat on the ottoman, Father White took a chair near her. 'Tell me everything. I see you've been weeping. You're not happy at home then?'