"Mine, Robert," said Mrs Rolph, firmly. "You forget the terms of your father's will. You have your income; I have mine, with undisturbed possession of everything at The Warren while I live. You occupy the position of my guest when you are here." "Humph! all right. And so you have discharged Ben, eh? When does he go?" "To-day." "Sharp practice, mother; and all because poor Judy is pretty." "And all because, as I told him, I wished to save--I will speak plainly, even in your cousin's presence--a weak, vain girl from disgrace." "Humph! pretty plain speaking that, mother." "There are times when plain speaking is necessary, my son, and when strong action is required to save you from the consequences of a mad passion." "Rubbish!" "What! Don't you know Ben Hayle better than that? Do you think he is the man to sit down quietly when he knows the truth? Have you not seen that the foolish fellow believes thoroughly what he as good as told me to my face this morning--that he expects to see his daughter some day mistress here?" "Ben Hayle's a fool," cried Rolph, angrily, "and you and Madge here are half-crazy. Let's have an end of it. Once for all, mother, I mean to do exactly as I like, and I have done as I liked." Mrs Rolph started forward in her chair, and Marjorie's lips tightened. "What do you mean, Rob?" cried the former. "You want to see me married, I believe?" "I want to see you prove yourself an honourable gentleman--a worthy son of your father, not a man for whom I should blush." "All right, then. I've taken the right steps for settling into a quiet, country gentleman. I'm going to be married." Marjorie's eyes flashed. "Rob, you will not be so mad as to marry that girl?" "Yes, I shall," he said coolly. "Then I have done with you for ever. Judith Hayle may come here when I am in my grave, but till then--" "Let the churchyard alone, mother. Do you think I'm such a fool as to marry a poacher's daughter?" "Rob! Then you have repented!" cried Mrs Rolph excitedly, and Marjorie trembled and sank upon her knees to cling to her aunt's waist. "Oh, yes, I've repented, and I'm going to be a very good boy and get married soon." "Madge, my dear child!" cried Mrs Rolph, embracing the girl at her feet. "There, don't get filling her head full of false hopes, the same as you did Judy Hayle's mother," said Rolph brutally. "I went yesterday and proposed, and have been accepted." Marjorie's breath came and went in a low hiss as she turned her wild eyes upon her cousin. "Proposed? To whom? Rob, not to that pert, penniless girl at The Firs?" "What, the moon-shooter's sister!" cried Rolph. "Hah! nice, little, bright-eyed thing. But no: try again." Mrs Rolph rose excitedly from her chair, and Marjorie's hands dropped from her waist as she crouched lower upon the carpet. "Not John Day's daughter--Glynne?"