"But why should you be worried?" "It's so horrid. It's shocking. It's not to be thought of." "But why not?" asked Dacres. "Why, it's--it's so horrid," said Mrs. Willoughby. Dacres stood looking at her for a long time. "Kitty," said he at last. Mrs. Willoughby looked up. Dacres looked all around. He then took her hand. "Isn't it too bad," he said, "to let Minnie--" "What?" "To let her go through this ordeal alone?" "Alone!" exclaimed Mrs. Willoughby, looking in wonder at him. "Yes." "What _do_ you mean?" "Couldn't _we_ accompany her?" Mrs. Willoughby snatched away her hand. "Are you mad?" she cried. "I do believe the whole world's mad to-day." "Mad!" cried Dacres. "Yes, I'm mad--insane--raving! Won't you be merciful again? Won't you, Kitty? Won't you 'humor' my ravings? Oh, do. Oh, Kitty! dear Kitty--!" "It's positive insanity!" "Oh, Kitty!" "You're raving!" "Won't you 'humor' me--just this once! only this once." "Hush! there they come," said Mrs. Willoughby, suddenly snatching away her hand, which Dacres had somehow got hold of again, and moving a little further away from him. It was the Baron and Minnie who were coming back again, while Hawbury and Ethel were seen a little further away. There they all stood--there, on the spot where they had found the crisis of their fortunes; and as they stood there the two clergymen, Catholic and Protestant, slowly came out of the house. THE END. * * * * * Errors and anomalies noted by transcriber: dextrously (both occurrences); cariboo; Guiseppe; assasination [spelling unchanged] It seems con-foundedly odd de-nomination [hyphens in original] perfectly cool and lady-like." [missing close quote] "Well, he said--he said, 'Yes, darling'--and--" [missing open quote before "Yes"] I really wish they'd stop it. But, Kitty dear--" [missing close quote] "Aha! don't I know her? I warrant you... [missing open quote] Potes ne juvare nos [spacing in original]