“Does he know I am coming?” “I think he rather expects you,” said the girl dryly. “I will see him by myself,” said Mrs. Cathcart, turning half-way up the stairs. “You will see him with me, mother, or you will not see him at all,” said the girl. “You will do as I tell you, Edith,” stormed the woman. The girl smiled. “Mother,” she said gently, “you have ceased to have any right to direct me. You have handed me over to another guardian whose claims are greater than yours.” It was not a good preparation for the interview that was to follow. Edith recognised this even as she opened the door and ushered her mother in. When Gilbert saw who his visitor was he rose with a little bow. He did not offer his hand. He knew something of what this woman was feeling. “Won’t you sit down, Mrs. Cathcart?” he said. “I’ll stand for what I have to say,” she snapped. “Now, what is the meaning of this?” She threw down the letter which the girl had written, and which she had read and re-read until every word was engraven on her mind. “Is it true,” she asked fiercely, “that you are a poor man? That you have deceived us? That you have lied your way into a marriage----” He held up his hand. “You seem to forget, Mrs. Cathcart,” he said with dignity, “that the question of my position has already been discussed by you and me, and you have been most emphatic in impressing upon me the fact that no worldly considerations would weigh with you.” “Worldly!” she sneered. “What do you mean by worldly, Mr. Standerton? Are you not in the world? Do you not live in a house and eat bread and butter that costs money? Do you not use motor-cars that require money for their upkeep? Whilst I am living in the world and you are living in the world worldly considerations will always count. I thought you were a rich man; you’re a beggar.” He smiled a little contemptuously. “A pretty mess you’ve made of it,” she said harshly. “You’ve got a woman who doesn’t love you--I suppose you know that?” He bowed. “I know all that, Mrs. Cathcart,” he said. “I knew the worst when I learnt that. The fact that you so obviously planned the marriage because you thought that I was Sir John Standerton’s heir does not hurt me, because I have met so many women like you, only”--he shrugged his shoulders--“I must confess that I thought you were a little different to the rest of worldly mothers--forgive me if I use that word again. But you are not any better--you may be a little worse,” he said, his thoughtful eyes upon her face. He was looking at her with a curious something which the woman could not quite understand in his eyes. She had seen that look somewhere, and in spite of herself she shivered. The anger died away in fear.