His square face was livid with passion. A steady accumulation of wrath--the slow and deadly anger that lurks under strong control in a man of his type--was surging up and breaking bounds. "You've got to listen. It's my turn now. By heavens, I've been patient enough..." "Go on." McTaggart was watching him, his mouth hard. It was a challenge. Bethune's stormy eyes flashed at the faint contempt in the words. "I will." He stood there, very erect, a curious dignity about him that added to the suggestion of power in the strong, heavily built figure. "You went away, out of England--an engaged man--so I understood--intending to marry Miss Cadell." His gaze never left McTaggart. "Well--it's no earthly business of mine whether you meant it--you _said_ you did. But you never gave a thought to Jill--or any of us left behind. For months and months--save a few cards to tell me where to forward your letters! And I got--somehow--into the way of seeing a lot of ... the Uniackes. They were--all of them--awfully kind. And when this last trouble came--this Suffrage business with the Mother--it was to me Jill turned--and I helped her ... well, all I could. I was up there most evenings while Mrs. Uniacke was in prison"--he paused for a second and went on huskily--"I thought ... Jill ... liked me a bit.... "Then _you_ turned up ... and took it over ... got Miss Uniacke to help. Yes--I know all about that--The old lady told me herself. "Jill was your friend before mine--and don't you think I ever forgot it!" his voice rose threateningly. "I stood aside and gave you your chance. "You can't say that I've troubled you with much of my company these last weeks ... (McTaggart stirred impatiently). But I thought you meant the straight game." "What the devil d'you mean by that?" The other's blue eyes were ablaze--"you'd better look out what you're saying..." He caught himself in hand again. "Go on ... It's ... interesting." Bethune needed no second bidding. Whipped by the sneer in McTaggart's voice, he turned on him savagely. "That's just it--the difference! I'm not a Society man, thank God! and I don't understand Society ways--nor the lies they act all day long. But I _do_ know what's fair to a woman. Any fool could have understood what your return meant to Jill..." To his surprise McTaggart started. "I saw at once I hadn't a chance--not the ghost of one!" he caught his breath--"but I wanted--to see--Jill happy. Where I was wrong was I didn't know _you_..." He struck his fist on the table. "I thought you really meant business. I might have learned from the past"--his voice was full of grim disgust--"I _ought_ to know your way with women! And it's not fair on a girl like Jill--she's out and away too fine for you--to _marry_ a man like you, I mean--let alone mere flirtation. Why--what d'you suppose that Aunt thought? with you hanging around all day long. She fairly played into your hands--any ass could have seen that!"