“I’ve tried that. When I don’t see him, it’s even clearer to me than when I do that I must marry him. Besides, if he _weren’t_ on earth now, I still couldn’t marry the Hanky sort. Oh, father dear--can’t you see the change in me? As you say, I’m like you. Put yourself in my place. Would _you_ marry the sort of person Hanky is--the sort all the Hankies are--if you could--” She sighed. “But I can’t. He won’t. Father, please help me!” There was a conflict of expressions in Richmond’s face as she made this appeal movingly. It was sheer confession of fear of his own better self which loved his daughter, which respected the things she was now learning to respect--it was sheer confession when he flew into furious rage--the one mood where a human being is safe from the entreaties of heart and the counsels of higher intelligence. “You are crazy--plain crazy!” he cried in his most insulting tone. “There’s no excuse for you--none! Reasoning with you is time wasted.” “If I’m crazy there’s every excuse for me,” answered she, with the placidity of the anger that is beyond the stage of bluster and sputter. “If I’m not crazy there’s no excuse for you.” “Answer me! Are you going to be sensible? Are you ready to drop tomfoolery and make a happy and contented future for yourself?” “If I can,” replied she. “If Roger will----” Up sprang Richmond. “Not another word! I’ll show you, miss----” “Yes, one word more,” interrupted she. “I want to say just one thing more. If you do not agree to let Peter and Mr. Wade alone I shall leave your house at once--and this time it will be for good.” “_You_--threaten _me_!” he shouted, shaking with fury, for that sense of ultimate powerlessness with her had driven him quite insane. “Do you wish me to stay or to go?” asked she, her color gone, but every sign of steadfastness in her face, in her figure, in her attitude. “Go!” he shrieked. “Go--and make a fool and a scandal of yourself. Go! Go! Go!” And away he rushed, a crazy man. XIV THE SECOND FLIGHT Peter met her in the main entrance. “How did he take it?” he asked excitedly, his nerves obviously unstrung. “Not very well,” replied she. “Yes--I saw him tearing away into the woods. Good Lord! How _can_ you take it so quietly!” By way of answer Beatrice shrugged her shoulders and lifted her eyebrows. “Beatrice--honestly don’t you think we’d better go ahead and do as he wants? He is a dangerous man--believe me, he is. I don’t like to speak so of your father, but everyone agrees that he----” “You can never tell a man’s family any news about what he is,” said Beatrice. “He’ll make life a hell for you,” groaned Hanky. “And he’ll make mischief for me.” “I think not,” replied she. “He’ll have other things besides you to occupy him. He knows it’s wholly my fault.” “But, Beatrice--don’t be obstinate. You must know it’d really not be so rotten bad to marry me.” “I thought I mentioned the fact that I’m in love with some one else.”