A cry of horror ran through the crowd, but heeding it not at all, Dan threw on his coat and buckled his belt about him, and strode through the people and out at the gate. CHAPTER XVII THE WRONG WAY WITH DAN What happened next was one of those tragedies of bewildering motive, so common and so fatal, in which it is impossible to decide whether evil passion or evil circumstances plays the chief malicious part. Dan walked straight to the new Ballamona, and pushed through the house without ceremony, as it had been his habit to do in other days, to the room where Mona was to be found. She was there, and she looked startled at his coming. "Is it you, Dan?" she said, in a tremulous whisper. He answered sullenly: "It is I. I have come to speak with you. I have something to say--but no matter--" He stopped and threw himself into a chair. His head ached, his eyes were hot, and his mind seemed to him to be in darkness and confusion. "Mona, I think I must be going mad," he stammered after a moment. "Why talk like that?" she said. Her bosom heaved and her face was troubled. He did not answer, but after a pause turned toward her, and said in a quick, harsh tone, "You did not expect to see me here, and you have been forbidden to receive me. Is it not so?" She colored deeply, and did not answer at once, and then she began, with hesitation: "My father--it is true, my father--" "It _is_ so," he said sharply. He got on to his feet and tramped about the room. After a moment he sat down again, and leaned his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "But what of Ewan?" he asked. "Ewan loves you, Dan, and you have been at fault," said Mona, in broken accents. "At fault?" There was a sudden change in his manner. He spoke bruskly, even mockingly, and laughed a short, grating laugh. "They are taking the wrong way with me, Mona--that's the fact," he said, and now his breast heaved and the words came with difficulty. Mona was gazing absently out at the window, her head aslant, her fingers interlaced before her. "Oh, Dan, Dan," she murmured in a low tone, "there is your dear, dear father, and Ewan, and--and myself--" Dan had leapt to his feet again. "Don't turn my eyes into my head, Mona," he said.