"I am not so sure," I said. "Were the affair made public, my father would adopt his own course. He can be stern as well as tender, and were his name dragged into the mud because of his connection with you, it is most likely he would institute an inquiry which might bring to light circumstances which you would rather should be hidden both from his knowledge and from the knowledge of the world. You know best about that; I am not so shallow-witted as to suppose that I am acquainted with all the particulars of your career; but I am on the track, and the task of discovery would not be difficult." "You are pitiless!" she cried. "Sydney Campbell would never have spoken to me as you are speaking." "His nature was different from mine, but he was jealous of his honour, too. I wish to make the position very clear to you. Even were nothing worse than what is already known to be discovered against you, and my father consented to make you an allowance--of which I am not at all sure--it would not be as large as that I am prepared to secure to you. That aspect of the matter is worth your consideration." "How much a year do you propose?" she asked, after a slight pause. "Not less than a thousand a year. I will undertake that my father shall make you that, or even a larger allowance, upon the conditions I have stated." "In my confession am I to relate _all_ that passed between Sydney Campbell and myself? You think I did not love him. You are mistaken. I loved him deeply, and had he lived he would soon have been at my feet again." "You are to omit nothing," I said; "my father must know all." She looked at me so piteously that for a moment a doubt intruded itself whether there might not be circumstances in her history with which I was unacquainted which, instead of more strongly condemning her, might entitle her to compassion; but too stern a duty was before me to allow the doubt to remain. "You will give me a few hours to decide," she implored. "The shock is so sudden! I am at your mercy. Grant me a few hours' respite! You will not, you cannot refuse!" I had no intention of refusing, but as if overcome by her feelings, she seized my hands and pressed them to her lips and her eyes, which were wet with tears. I was endeavouring to release myself when the door opened, and her maid appeared. "What do you want--what do you want?" cried my father's wife, as she flung herself from me. "How dare you come in without knocking!" "I knocked, madam," replied the maid, "but you could not have heard. I thought you rang." "I did not ring. Leave the room." The maid retired, and we were once more alone. "I will give you to till to-morrow," I said, "and then there must be an end to this deception."