Strange, that in a turmoil of anger and dread as she was, Marise was continually wanting to laugh! The thought of herself as a fluttering dove and the big, brutal Garth as a sinuous snake was comic! But there was, alas, nothing else comic in the situation, and she explained it as she saw it, while Mums punctuated each sentence with moans. "It's awful!" sighed Mary at last. "But there's nothing really to be _feared_, so we must cheer up. Our protection is that this fellow's poor as a church rat (I _can't_ call him a mouse!). When it comes to the point he will have to toe the mark, and keep to his bargain----" "Ah, that's it!" cried Marise. "He says through _my_ action the bargain is off. He wouldn't explain what he meant: said I'd see for myself sooner or later. But I don't see yet. Do you?" "I do not, indeed. I believe it's only more wicked bluff on his part. He talks of taking you West with him. What does he expect you to live on? Your own money? He hasn't got his million dollars yet, and he'll lose the lot unless he behaves himself," Mums laid down the law. "For goodness' sake, though, don't complain to Tony of the creature's threats! Tony would fight him--kill him, perhaps. What a sickening scandal! No, you've made an appalling mistake by marrying Garth before you needed to do so, and giving him a hold over you just as Tony is going so far away. But you can take care of yourself--or if you can't I can take care of you. As for this suite the man boasts about, I'll 'phone down now to the manager and question him. If it adjoins this, as it probably does--that would have been arranged if possible, no doubt--why, everything will be simple enough." Marise did not answer. She was beginning to think that nothing was quite simple where Garth was concerned. CHAPTER XIX WHY THE BARGAIN WAS OFF Marise started late for the theatre, because she felt unequal to coping with her fellow actors' and actresses' well-meaning good wishes. She went alone with Céline, for Mums had developed a nervous sick headache, and the girl, like a dutiful daughter, had begged her to rest at home. "You'll be more able to help me out with--any complications that may come afterwards," she said. The star's wonderfully decorated dressing-room was entered through a still more wonderfully decorated reception or ante-room; and almost running in, Marise stopped short with a gasp of surprise. Not only was the place crammed with flowers--all white, bridal flowers (that in itself was not strange), but in the midst of them sat Garth, still in uniform. As his wife appeared he rose, grave and silent, as if awaiting a cue. "Take these things into the dressing-room, Céline," ordered Marise, tossing her gold bag and furs to the maid. "I'll be there in a minute." When Céline had obeyed, the girl looked the man up and down. "Visitors don't intrude here, except by invitation," she informed him. "Have you invited Lord Severance to intrude?" Garth asked.