“Very well, Lord Robert, merely that of a man who intends to protect an injured woman.” “Oh, I know,” said Lord Robert dryly, “I understand these heroics. I've heard of your sermons, Mr. Storm--your interviews with ladies, and so forth.” “And I have heard of your doings with girls,” said John. “What are you going to do for this one?” “Exactly what I please.” “Take care! You know what the girl is. It's precisely such girls---- At this moment she is tottering on the brink of hell, Lord Robert. If anything further should happen--if you should disappoint her--she is looking to you and building up hopes--if she should fall still lower and destroy herself body and soul----” “My dear Mr. Storm, please understand that I shall do everything or nothing for the girl exactly as I think well, don't you know, without the counsel or coercion of any clergyman.” There was a short silence, and then John Storm said quietly: “It is no worse than I expected. But I had to hear it from your own lips, and I have heard it. Good-day.” He went back to the hospital and asked for Glory. She was banished with Polly to the housekeeper's room. Polly was catching flies on the window (which overlooked the park) and humming, “Sigh no more, ladies.” Glory's eyes were red with weeping. John drew Glory aside. “I have written to Mrs. Callender, and she will be here presently,” he said. “It is useless,” said Glory. “Polly will refuse to go. She expects Lord Robert to come for her, and she wants me to call on Mr. Drake.” “But I have seen the man myself.” “Lord Robert?” “Yes. He will do nothing.” “Nothing!” “Nothing, or worse than nothing.” “Impossible!” “Nothing of that kind is impossible to men like those.” “They are not so bad as that though, and even if Lord Robert is all you say, Mr. Drake----” “They are friends and housemates, Glory, and what the one is the other must be also.” “Oh, no. Mr. Drake is quite a different person.” “Don't be misled, my child. If there were any real difference between them----” “But there is; and if a girl were in trouble or wanted help in anything----” “He would drop her, Glory, like an old lottery ticket that has drawn a blank and is done for.” She was biting her lip, and it was bleeding slightly. “You dislike Mr. Drake,” she said, “and that is why you can not be just to him. But he is always praising and excusing you, and when any one----” “His praises and excuses are nothing to me. I am not thinking of myself. I am thinking----” He had a look of intense excitement, and his speaking was abrupt and disconnected.