"Oh, as to that, no gentleman can look after a house, Mr. Allen. It's woman's work to see to such things. Let me manage at present, and when I am gone your wife can take my place." "Wife!" echoed Dr. Scott, with a sigh. "I shall never marry." Dora said nothing, but bent her head to hide the despair written on her face. Feeling that she had said too much, Mrs. Tice hastened to excuse herself; in doing so, she only succeeded in making matters worse. The name of Joad occurred in the midst of her excuses, and Allen made a feeble gesture of displeasure. "I wish you would not mention that creature," he said, clasping Dora's hand. "I hate him as much as Dora does. He is her enemy and mine." "But, for all that, I must marry him, Allen." "No. You must not sacrifice yourself." "Mr. Allen, be sensible!" cried Mrs. Tice. "You stand in a dreadful position; you are at the mercy of Joad. Should he speak you are lost." "I can tell my story." Dora shook her head. "It will not be believed in the face of Joad's evidence," said she dolefully. "And then the quarrel you had with Mr. Edermont gives colour to his accusation." Dr. Scott made a gesture of dissent, but Mrs. Tice supported Dora. "She is right, Mr. Allen. If Joad speaks you are lost. Talk it over with Miss Carew, sir, and I'll hear what you think when I come back. Just now I must look after the house." When she left the room, Allen waited until the door was closed, then turned to look at Dora. She was sitting by the side of the sofa with a drooping head, and a sad expression on her face. Moved by her silent sorrow, and ascribing it rightly to the unhappy position in which they stood to one another, he took her hands within his own. "Do not look so sad, Dora," he said softly; "I shall be better shortly. It is the knowledge of what was told to me by Mr. Edermont which has made me ill. But I shall recover, my dear, and bear my troubles like a man." Dora burst into tears. "I can only bear my troubles like a woman," she sobbed. "Oh, Allen, Allen! what have we done, you and I, that we should be made so unhappy? You are in a very dangerous position, and I can save you only by marrying a man I detest." "Dora, you must not marry Joad. I cannot accept safety at the price of your lifelong misery." "What does it matter about my marrying that creature?" she said, drying her tears. "I can never become your wife." Allen groaned. "True, true; ah, how true it is that the sins of the father are visited on the children! It is shameful that we should suffer as we do for the evil of others." "We cannot help our position, Allen. There is no hope." "You are right," said Allen in a despairing tone; "there is no hope. Ah, Dora, if you only knew the truth!" "I do know the truth." "Who told you?" he asked, sitting up with a look of astonishment. "Lady Burville told me that----" "Lady Burville!" he interrupted sharply; "what does she know?"