"I'll walk with you, Lily," said Lizzie, as Mr. Sheldrake held out his hand to assist Lily from the cab; "it's only a few steps, and the cab can wait." But Mr. Sheldrake put a restraining hand upon her arm. "I can see Miss Lily safely to her door," he said politely. "You have a long way to go, and Mr. Musgrave is waiting up for you, you said. It's very late, and you'd best be moving. Eh, Alfred?" "Yes, yes," returned Alfred hurriedly; "we must rattle on. Good-night, Mr. Sheldrake. I'll see you to-morrow some time." The cab drove away, and for a few moments neither Lizzie nor Alfred spoke. Their thoughts were not in unison. But Lizzie, the more gentle nature of the two, presently crept close to Alfred and placed her hand in his. He threw it from him angrily. She resented this at first, and shrank from him; but a better feeling came upon her soon, and she asked: "What have I done, Alfred, that you behave in this manner to me?" "Done!" he repeated, with bitter emphasis. "Been the ruin of me, I shouldn't wonder!" "Alfred!" "O, yes," he said sullenly. "It's all very well for you to cry Alfred in that tone; but it won't mend matters. I thought you loved me----" "Have I not proved it, Alfred?" she interrupted, in a tone of sadness. "But I have found out my mistake," he continued, not heeding her words; "it's always the way. Mr. Sheldrake is right in what he says about women; no man ought to trust them." "Do you think you ought not to trust me? "Do you think there is anything in the world that I would not do for your sake? O Alfred, you speak blindly!" "I am the best judge of that," he returned quickly; "you don't know all. If there is nothing in the world that you would not do for my sake, why should you act in such a manner to-night as to set Mr. Sheldrake dead against me?" Lizzie did not reply for a few moments; her face was turned towards her lover, as if striving to read his thoughts. She could not see his features distinctly in the gloom of the cab, but his voice was a sufficient index to the trouble that possessed him. "You speak as if you were afraid of Mr. Sheldrake, Alfred?" "I should have reason to be if he turned rusty. He gave me a warning to-night." "Because I displeased him?" "Yes, because of you. It makes me sick to think of it, to speak of it. I wish I was dead! I am the most miserable wretch in the world! If it were not for you and Lily, I think I should make away with myself." "Don't speak like that, Alf," said Lizzie, placing her arm tenderly around him; "it breaks my heart to see you so unhappy. I know you love me and Lily. And you ought to be sure that we are better friends to you than Mr. Sheldrake can be, and that we would do more for you if it was in our power." "That's it. If it was in your power. But it isn't, and it _is_ in Mr. Sheldrake's; and he has behaved like a true friend to me." "Sometimes I ask myself, Alfred, what can be his motive?"