"Because he can't keep you," retorted her father. "Marry Arkel without a penny; why, child, you must be mad!" "I am sure Major Dundas is a very nice man, Hilda," put in her mother. "Very nice," assented the girl with irony--"altogether too nice to buy me. I am for sale to the highest bidder, I know, but it doesn't say because I am for sale that Major Dundas is going to buy me. He's got his own little fish to fry. He's in love with Miriam Crane!" "What! the governess?" scoffed the doctor, holding out his cup for another cup of tea. "You needn't trouble yourself about her. From what Mrs. Darrow hinted that young lady is no better than she should be. I couldn't quite get at the facts, but there's a good deal that's queer about her, and Dundas is not the man to marry a woman with a doubtful past." "And he most certainly is not the man to marry a girl who jilts another man because he happens to be poor." "There will be no jilting about the matter," replied Dr. Marsh irritably. "You engaged yourself to Gerald Arkel without my knowledge. Now that it has come to my knowledge I refuse to sanction it, that's all." "And unless I obey you'll cut me off with a shilling, I suppose," sneered Miss Hilda. "Don't be insolent, girl!" shouted the doctor, colouring with rage. "I won't have it. I've been more than a good father to you. Haven't I given you a first-class education, dressed you like a princess, and allowed you to do absolutely nothing, as if you had a thousand a year of your own?" "Oh, you've done all in your power to make your Circassian a saleable article, I admit." "Circassian! what does the girl mean?" "Simply that I have been fed and dressed and pampered just like a Circassian for the Sultan's harem." "Harem!" shrieked Mrs. Marsh. "Hilda, you positively shock me! Where do you learn such language?" "I shock myself when I think of myself, mother. They sell Circassians in Turkey, and what do you and father intend to do with me--what have you always intended to do with me--but sell me to the highest bidder? Simply because it turns out now that Major Dundas has this money I am to be put on the market for his inspection. A little while ago I should not have minded--I did not mind; but now, oh!"--she was on her feet by this time and white with anger--"it is too degrading to be treated like a bale of goods. You think nothing of my heart--of my feelings. I believe you would throw me gladly into the arms of the Prince of Darkness himself if he was rich enough. I hate you both for it, and I hate myself, and--and I won't stand it! I won't!" And the wretched girl, unable to contain herself, ran out of the room. For she had discovered for the first time that she could feel, and her feelings had been touched, and all the training of past years was powerless to prevent a little outburst of nature.