Juvenal shrunk back alarmed. "Keep back!" he cried, "or I will summon aid." "Do not alarm yourself, Mr. Formby," said Tremenhere, retreating contemptuously. "I would not touch, still less harm, any one dear to, or allied to Miss Dalzell--rest well assured of that; for all I have done to Marmaduke Burton, I would do it again in my just indignation. Did he tell you all? Did he tell you of our first meeting in his apartment, when I chastised the cowardly cur for his base seduction of one almost a sister to me?" "_His_ seduction?" exclaimed Juvenal--"_your's_, you mean?" "_Mine!_" ejaculated Miles, under his breath from surprise at this infamous charge. "Mine!--did he tell you this?" "Tell me?--yes! and you know it to be true; he spoke of it with regret, and of your infatuation in guilt, in having taken the girl away to town, where she awaits your coming--and it is to your base arms you would take my innocent niece!" "'Tis false--false as his own black heart!" thundered Miles, and the red blood mantled in his face, the eyes shot fire. "If this alone be the cause of your _just_ dislike to me--believing this--if I _prove_ it false, may I then hope to win Miss Dalzell at your hands?" In his heart, Juvenal did not believe this of Miles; he cared little who had been the seducer of Mary Burns, but it suited his purpose to think Miles guilty. "You cannot prove your innocence," he said; but his uncertain glance shrank from the other's bold, steadfast one. "I can, and will, if that be the only barrier!" exclaimed the hopeful man. "By the girl herself, Mr. Skaife, your sister Miss Dorcas Formby--by many." "It could not alter my determination," stammered Juvenal. "I care little about proving, or disproving it, as either way, I should never consent to your marriage with my niece." Miles's foot beat impatient time on the floor, on which his gaze was fixed, with the knitted brow above it. By an immense effort over himself, he at last looked up, in appearance composed. "I came resolved," he said, "to bear all, suffer any insult for her sake--I came to conciliate if _possible_; and now, once and again, Mr. Formby, I ask you to consent, or, if not that, give her her liberty; give me hope, and I will make a name to win her with, better than any mere birth could bring me; but _that_ too, I feel, I shall regain, and triumph over my enemy. I will win wealth--all--only give me hope; you see I implore now, for both our sakes." "Hope to you--liberty to her?" laughed Juvenal, ironically, encouraged by Miles's softened tone. "I tell you she shall regain her liberty as Marmaduke Burton's wife--only then." "You are resolved?--take time to consider." Miles's voice was low and emphatic. "I need no consideration," answered the excited man; "my mind is made-up, and my word pledged!" He felt in himself that Miles was too noble for him to have personal violence to dread at his hands--he spoke undauntedly.