"I am willing to make you a proper allowance, and to give you all proper freedom," he went on. He showed his sharp white teeth in a gracious smile. "I realize I must concede something of my old-fashioned ideas to the modern spirit. I never thought I would, but I didn't appreciate how fond I was of you, my dear." He mumbled his tongue and noiselessly smacked his thin lips. "Yes, you are worth concessions and sacrifices." "I am not going back," said Mildred. "Nothing you could offer me would make any difference." She felt suddenly calm and strong. She stood. "Please consider this final." "But, my dear," said the general softly, though there was a wicked gleam behind the mask, "you forget the scandal--" "I forget nothing," interrupted she. "I shall not go back." Before he could attempt further to detain her she opened the screen door and entered. It closed on the spring and on the spring lock. Donald Keith, coming in from the sea-front veranda, was just in time to save her from falling. She pushed him fiercely away and sank down on the sofa just within the pretty little drawing-room. She said: "Thank you. I didn't mean to be rude. I was only angry with myself. I'm getting to be one of those absurd females who blubber and keel over." "You're white and limp," said he. "What's the matter?" "General Siddall is out there." "Um--he's come back, has he?" said Keith. "And I am afraid of him--horribly afraid of him." "In some places and circumstances he would be a dangerous proposition," said Keith. "But not here in the East--and not to you." "He would do ANYTHING. I don't know what he can do, but I am sure it will be frightful--will destroy me." "You are going with him?" She laughed. "I loathe him. I thought I left him through fear and anger. I was mistaken. It was loathing. And my fear of him--it's loathing, too." "You mean that?" said Keith, observing her intently. "You wish to be rid of him?" "What a poor opinion you have of me," said she. "Really, I don't deserve quite that." "Then come with me." The look of terror and shrinking returned. "Where? To see him?" "For the last time," said Keith. "There'll be no scene." It was the supreme test of her confidence in him. Without hesitation, she rose, preceded him into the hall, and advanced firmly toward the screen door through which the little general could be seen. He was standing at the top step, his back to them. At the sound of the opening door he turned. "This is Mr. Donald Keith," said Mildred. "He wishes to speak to you." The general bowed; Keith bent his head. They eyed each other with the measuring glance. Keith said in his dry, terse way: "I asked Miss Gower to come with me because I wish her to hear what I have to say to you." "You mean my wife," said the general with a gracious smile. "I mean Miss Gower," returned Keith. "As you know, she is not your wife."