"You'll understand it all better, my dear young lady, when I tell you that Dorian has always been a spoiled boy--had everything he wanted all his life--cousin of mine, known him from boyhood--so, of course, he was frantic when you vowed you wouldn't marry him for a whole year--eternity, you know, to a man in love. Don't blame me, please! but as soon as the details of the duel was arranged, Dorian planned to elope with you." "Oh, Heaven!" cried Nita, in wildest alarm, and her face became ashen. "Don't excite yourself--please don't, Miss Farnham," cried the soldier anxiously. "Or at least let me get through first, then rave if you will." Lizette moved nearer to her young lady's side in mute distress, and he went on eagerly: "Didn't you think it strange, Dorian's inviting you to go yachting with him by moonlight? Bless you! he brought along a preacher--Irwin, you know--to marry you to-night; that is, of course, if you were willing--no gentleman would want to marry a lady without her consent. You see, he didn't expect to get wounded in the duel, and--oh, a mere episode that--and so, if you'll excuse my bluntness--here we are at sea, afraid to go back because the authorities are after us about the duel, and it might be best to stay away till the excitement blows over. And Dorian is wounded, and maybe you would think it real romantic to nurse him. Now would you be willing--so Dorian sent me to ask you--to marry him now!" He drew breath and looked at her apprehensively. Lizette had uttered a smothered little shriek, but Nita sat speechless and terrified, as if she had seen a ghost. All in a moment the enormity of her folly and her sin rushed over her. Oh, why had she let him love her? Why had she, in her weakness, drifted into this sea of difficulty. She gasped for breath; she felt like one drowning; and the doughty captain murmured cajolingly: "Although Dorian has acted very impetuously, and you have a perfect right to be angry, still I know the poor boy would be dreadfully broken up if you refused his prayer. And Irwin, too--poor fellow!--he did not know how dreadfully uncertain the affair was, and would be so very much disappointed." "This is cruel, cruel!" Nita murmured. "I told Dorian my--my--guardian----" "Yes, I know, Miss Farnham; but the impulsive boy thought it would be great fun to outwit your crusty old guardian. You weren't fond of him, anyway, were you?"--anxiously. She began to murmur something about duty and obedience, but he broke in, almost curtly: "You owe him neither now, my dear young lady. Oh, how can I tell you? Only, I don't suppose you ever cared much for the--ahem!--disreputable old party--miser, and all that--but the truth is, there was an accident on the elevated road to-day, and Charles Farnham was badly injured and taken to the hospital. Just before we left New York we got news of his death." CHAPTER XVI. "WITH THIS RING I THEE WED." "You have killed my mistress!" cried the maid angrily.