It was natural, of course. But just as scandal would have been fatal before, it might be useful in the present situation. If her "Mums" were close at hand, Marise might in the first confusion of her mind seek refuge under the maternal wing, from the man she loved. If she did anything futile like that, it would give Garth time to act: whereas, if Marise had no refuge but her lover--oh, distinctly it would be tempting Providence to telegraph to Mums! * * * * * "Well?" said Garth, when Marise stood statuelike in the blue dusk. "I don't think it _is_ very well," she answered slowly. "I warned you fairly that I'd not stand out of Severance's way," Garth reminded her, his face so grey and grim in the twilight that the girl remembered how she had thought it looked carved from rock. "Yet only a few minutes ago you offered to leave me, for a bribe of a second million." "There can't be a 'second' million till there's been a first." "The principle is the same." "There's where you're mistaken. I think now the time has come for you to understand. But I had a sneaking idea that perhaps you did understand, already. You have a sense of humour--a strong one, for a woman." "Has a sense of humour anything to do with--this affair?" "Yes. A grim one. But if you don't see it----" "Sometimes for a minute I've wondered if I did see--something." "What did you think you saw?" "I--hardly care to put it into words." "All right. I'll do it for you. But if I do, you must answer honestly." "I will--if I answer at all." "Very well, I'll risk your answering. You wondered pretty often and by flashes if the question of money ever had anything to do with my accepting the damnable and disgusting offer Severance made to me. Was that it?" "Ye-es. Though what else could it be, when you showed in every way that your love--if it was love--had turned to--to actual _hate_, before you married me?" "Oh, not so bad as that!" Garth protested, something like a queer, suppressed laugh, shaking his voice. "Dislike, then." "That sounds as if I hadn't treated you decently." "No, for you _have_. You've been very decent indeed--except that you've forced me to do lots of things I haven't wanted to do, like living in that suite at the Plaza and--and coming out here, and all that." "Wasn't it necessary, as you were so anxious to avoid scandal?" "There might have been other ways." "I didn't see them. Anyhow, it's done now. It can't be undone. And as things were, I've tried to treat you as you want to be treated, all through. As to the money, I will defend myself there, since it seems that you have seen to the bottom of the well--where truth lies!--only in those short flashes. If Severance had ever tried to hand me a million dollars or any other sum for what I've done, I'd have thrown it in his face, and knocked the face in after it. That's what I meant from the first. So now you know."