Kathleen walked up and down the floor in a passion of insulted pride, her cheeks burning, her little fists clinched in impotent wrath, her heart on fire with the longing to avenge herself on those two insolent women. It was a dangerous time to her for Teddy Darrell to enter--handsome, loving Teddy who adored her, and who was wild with anger over the insult she had received; for Kathleen could not keep back her grievance; she told Teddy frankly of Mrs. Carew's message and of Alpine's offer. "Great Heaven! how mean some women can be! It was done purposely to humiliate you!" he exclaimed, angrily. He looked at beautiful Kathleen, with the fire of her dark eyes dim with tears, and her cheeks burning with resentment, feeling himself hardly able to refrain from taking her in his arms and kissing away the tempestuous tears. Suddenly his repressed passion burst forth: "Kathleen, my darling, do marry me! Can't you learn to love me just a little? I would be so fond of you, so devoted, that you could not help but learn to love me. And I am rich, you know. I would help you queen it over those insolent women." Her heart leaped at his words; pride carried the day. "I would do it--if--if--I--thought I _could_ learn to love you; and that ought to be easy, because you have been so good to me, and I am so grateful," she murmured. It did seem easy at the moment. Teddy was true, Teddy loved her, while Ralph Chainey was false and cruel. Why should she wear the willow for _him_? Why lie down in the dust, while her heartless step-mother and step-sister trampled on her rights and her feelings? So in a fury of resentment, Kathleen gave Teddy her promise to marry him and to learn to love him. CHAPTER XXXVII. RALPH CHAINEY IS DRIVEN TO DESPERATION, AND TURNS ON HIS FOE. Even now, I tell you, I wonder Whether this woman called Estelle Is flesh and blood, or a beautiful lie Sent up from the depths of hell. EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN. Ralph Chainey went from Alpine's presence to his home in Sumner, one of the beautiful suburbs of Boston, and to the presence of his gentle widowed mother, who presided over a lovely home that was shared with her by an older son and his small family. "Ralph, dear, you look pale. You are ill!" she exclaimed, anxiously. "My head aches severely. I will go to my room and lie down for an hour to get my nerves steady for to-night," he said; and kissing her affectionately he left her to seek seclusion for his aching heart and brain. He leaned his aching head on his hand, and a rush of bitter memories swept over him.