He loosed his hold, and studied her strained face. "You are!" he whispered, in low consternation. David's defiant hatred of Mr. Chambers was beginning to rise. He was willing that Mr. Chambers should feel pain; but Helen's suffering because of himself, this would not let him keep silent. "But, Helen, you know you're----" She stopped him with a touch on his shoulder. "This is my moment. I've been expecting it. It is I that must speak." Mr. Chambers slowly reddened with anger. "Marry that thief? You shall not!" he cried. Her face was twitching, tears were starting in her eyes. "Forgive me for saying it, father," she besought tremulously, "but--can you prevent me?" "Your reason, your self-respect, should prevent you. Have you thought of the poverty?" She put a hand through David's arm. "I have. I'm ready for it." "And of the disgrace?" "I'm ready for it." He paled again. He saw the utter social ruin of his daughter, and it gave him infinite pain--and he saw the social injury to himself. She would sink from her present world, and her sinking would be the year's scandal; and that scandal he would have to live with, daily meet face to face. "Yes," he said slowly, "but your act will also disgrace your family, your friends. You are willing to disgrace me?" For three weeks conscience had demanded one attitude toward him, love another. "Please let's not speak of that!" she begged. "You're willing to disgrace me?" he repeated. She did not answer for a moment; then "Forgive me--I am," she whispered. "And you're decided--absolutely determined?" She nodded. "My God, Helen!" he burst out, "to think that you, with open eyes, would destroy yourself and dishonour your father!" "Forgive me!" she begged. He turned to David, his face fierce with rageful contempt. "And Aldrich! Let me say one thing to you. Any man in your situation who would ask a decent woman to marry him is a damned cad!" Helen raised a hand to stop the retort that was on David's lips. "It is I that insist on marriage--he refuses me," she said quietly. Mr. Chambers stared long at her, astounded as he had never before been in his life. "There's something behind all this," he said, abruptly. She was silent. Even in this tense moment his readiness did not desert him. Sometimes one is stronger than two, sometimes weaker. This time one would be weaker. "Mr. Aldrich," he said quietly, "would you be so kind as to leave us. There are matters here to be talked over only between Helen and me." Helen felt the moment before her she had for a month been fearing--felt herself on the verge of the greatest crisis of her life. "Yes--please do, David. It's best for us two to be alone." She gave David her hand. He pressed it and silently withdrew. Mr. Chambers stepped close to Helen and gazed searchingly into her face. "There's something back of this. You're telling me all?" "I can't--please don't ask me, father!"