“That is a very pretty theory, and doubtless wins that silly girl’s warmest admiration, as being so disinterested and noble in you; when, if you should be so fortunate as to succeed in your designs to marry her, you would have the handling of the whole,” was the sarcastic rejoinder. “Sir, if you were any other than Editha’s father you would be made to repent of and apologize for those words.” Earle’s eyes emitted glances of fire, and his clenched hands and heaving chest showed how hard it was for him to refrain from bestowing the chastisement the evil-minded man so richly merited. A sardonic grin for a moment distorted Mr. Dalton’s features at these words; but, turning to Editha, who at that last insult to her lover had risen and now stood at his side, white and quivering with pain and indignation, he said, in low, concentrated tones: “Remember, if you dare to defy me in this matter as you did in the other, my secret and my hate shall crush you both.” Then, without another word, he turned and left the room. CHAPTER XVI THE PARTING “Oh, Earle, what can he mean? For the first time in my life I am actually afraid of my own father,” Editha said, sinking back upon the sofa from which she had so recently arisen, and bursting into nervous weeping. Earle knelt upon the floor beside her, and, lifting her head to his breast, folded his strong arms around her. “My darling, I think he is so beside himself with anger at some fancied injury that he scarcely knows what he means himself. Do not allow his words to distress you, Editha, and time, I feel, will bring everything right,” he said, soothingly. “Papa has changed so during the last two or three years—I cannot understand it at all. He used to pet and indulge me as a child, and only laughed at my whims and fancies, as he termed my childish wilfulness; but, since mamma’s and Uncle Richard’s death, he has seemed entirely indifferent. He will not bear the least opposition from me upon any subject. We have had more than one controversy regarding you, Earle—I _will_ stand up for what I know to be right and honorable, and if it happens to conflict with his ideas, he is so angry. Besides——” She stopped suddenly, blushing vividly. “Well, my ‘happiness?’” Earle said, encouragingly. “I had occasion to offend him deeply not long ago, and I suppose he cannot recover from his disappointment.” Then she went on to tell him of Mr. Tressalia’s proposals, and her repeated rejection of the same. “I should not feel it right to speak of this to any one else,” she said, in conclusion, “for I think it is very wrong for any woman to boast of having given pain in any such way; but henceforth I am to have no secrets from you, and it is but proper that you should know of this.”