"I will take you away," he said desperately. "I will take you away, Lavinia." She fell to laughing. "Why do you touch me? Do you not hate me? Will you meet your brother, because of me--_me_?" Then she seemed to collect herself. She clung to his coat, his heavy lace cravat, and let the weight of her slight figure fall across his arm. "You are not going to turn me away, Marius?" she asked in a quick breathless voice, and her powdered hair brushed his cheek. "No," he answered wildly. "On my honour, no." The door opened and Susannah Chressham stepped into the chamber. CHAPTER XIII MARIUS DECIDES Miss Chressham closed the door, and the Countess Lavinia was again surprised in Marius, for he did not thrust her from him nor give any sign of start or shame. His hand remained where it was, resting on the spinet behind her, but she loosened her clasp on his lace and drew herself erect. Susannah was the most ill at ease of the three. "What shall I say," she murmured, halting within the door--"to either of you?" she added; but her speech was directed wholly to her cousin. She ignored the Countess. "I am sorry that you have come," he answered, not looking at her, "for here, madam, is a matter you cannot mend." "Have you followed me?" demanded the Countess violently. Miss Chressham brought herself to address Rose's wife. "Your maid came to me," she said, with pallid lips, "and informed me of this visit. She is below now, waiting for you, my lady." The Countess Lavinia laughed. "What manner of woman do you think I am, madam?" she cried. "You do not know me." "I did not think of you at all, madam," answered Miss Chressham quietly, "for, as you say, I do not know you; but Captain Lyndwood I do know, and to him have I come to appeal." He stood unnaturally still, with slightly parted lips and averted eyes. The lace falling round the hand he rested on the spinet shook noticeably. The Countess, braced by hatred of the other woman, inspired by the fury of this interference, stepped into the centre of the room, a slender, almost childish figure in the clinging white dress. "Will you begone, madam?" she said thickly. "This is no affair of yours." "No affair of mine, madam?" answered Miss Chressham proudly. "I, my lady, am of the house of Lyndwood." "And I am not," cried the Countess; "but a tradesman's daughter." "I speak of honour, madam, which belongeth not to birth," retorted Susannah. Lady Lyndwood flung back her head. "There was nought of honour in the bargain," she said. "Your house hath had the money and spent it, and now I think it is my turn." "Marius!" cried Miss Chressham. "Help me--help me in what I have come to do!" He moved forward slowly, with his head bent, and at sight of him both the women were silent, so clearly was he labouring with an almost unendurable agony of soul. "How shall I adjust this?" he asked. "How?" "There is nothing to adjust," said the Countess. "You have decided."