Patty uttered a scream which rang through the dusky old room, and by a strong and sudden effort wrenched herself free, throwing her assailant to his knees; then she turned, and darted out of the room and out of the house. As she gained the long avenue, she heard Breck in pursuit, and she ran as she had never run before in the most hoydenish days of her girlhood. He overtook her just as she reached the great gate, but not before she had seen the figure of a man in the street. "Help, help!" she cried. In another instant Tom Putnam stood between her and his nephew. The lawyer looked from one to the other in amazement; while Patty, panting and breathless, thrust into his hands the will, but could not speak. Frank attempted to snatch the precious document, but his uncle held him off. "What is this?" he asked. "What does this mean, Frank?" "It means that between you, you are making a devilish mess," the young man said in a rage; "and I wash my hands of it.--I wish you joy of what you have done." He cast a scowling look at Patty, as he addressed to her the last words, and, not heeding his uncle's voice, strode off down the street. "Will you tell me what all this is about?" Tom asked, unfolding the will. "You can see for yourself," she answered. "It is about that--about your tenant." "My tenant?" "Yes," she said coldly,--"Mrs. Smithers." She turned away, and walked in the direction of her home. She felt the bitterest humiliation in speaking to the man she loved the name of the woman of his relations to whom she dared not think. "Wait," he said: "I am going with you." A quick step placed him at her side; but she had averted her face. He laid his hand upon her arm. "Don't touch me!" she exclaimed, shaking off his fingers. "I will not bear it. Take that will to her, and give her your congratulations." "What?" he cried. "You have heard,--but you cannot have believed"-- "Believed!" she retorted fiercely. "I believe nothing but that she told me"-- "What?" he demanded. Before she could answer, Dr. Sanford's buggy rolled along towards them. "Take me home, father," cried poor Patty. And a moment later Tom Putnam was left alone. CHAPTER XLIII. CLARENCE IS ANSWERED. The week which Patty had asked of Clarence Toxteth had expired; and that young lady was in her chamber, giving the last touches to her toilet before going down to the parlor to meet her suitor. The days seemed to her to have passed with flying feet. She had occupied herself much more in thinking how short a space she had for deliberation than in considering the important question she was now to answer. She therefore found herself no nearer a conclusion when Clarence called than when she had dismissed him a week earlier. Her toilet completed, the girl leaned her face upon her hands, and regarded herself in the mirror.