"There is a great scarcity of houses," he said, "and you would get a good price. Besides, with your son married and away you will not have the same need for a big house in London... When the fund has been collected, it will be settled on Miss Phenton, as it is her position that requires safeguarding; you have assured me of your son's abilities, so he should have no difficulty in making a big income in the position which I contemplate offering him. If he fails, it will be his own fault; but, as I never believe in bolstering up failures, his wife must be made independent of his success in business. If you consent to this in principle and will empower me to work out the details, your son's appointment is secured, and he can sail for China as soon as he can get a passage. Let us now go in to dinner, or Miss Phenton will be wondering what has happened to us." I felt _then_ that he had decided to break me at all costs, one shock after another. _Forcing_ Will into marriage, _driving_ him abroad, calmly proposing that I should denude myself of everything--and then throwing me face to face with this girl. I tried to protest... And then I knew that, if he did not give me something to eat, I should simply break down... I had met the girl before, of course--just for a moment, hardly long enough to take in more than a general view, "the old clergyman's pretty little daughter", if you understand me... Big grey eyes and a quantity of soft hair; a shy, appealing girl... "Won't you leave us alone for a moment?," I said to Sir Appleton. Rather to my surprise he _did_ have the consideration to oblige me in that. "Molly, my dear, won't you kiss me?," I said. The poor little thing shrank from me... "I'm so _ashamed_," she cried. "My child, my child," I said, "you are overwrought. But we are going to send you right away, where you will forget all your troubles. All will be well. All would have been well from the beginning if you had trusted me and taken me into your confidence." "I felt you'd think me so wicked!," sobbed the poor little thing. I told her that I couldn't think _her_ wicked without thinking the same of Will. "Right and Wrong," I said, "existed from the beginning and will endure to the end, irrespective of conventions and institutions. I say to you what I should not dare say to your father: right and wrong are older than any marriage laws. You love my boy?" "Oh, I do," she cried. "I never loved any one before and I could never love any one else."