He has loved Maud Langton dearly, and he is cut to the heart by the bitter humiliation she has put upon him. He is a jilted man. How shall he face the sneering world again? that world that but a little while ago fawned upon him because he was going to marry Mr. Langton's heiress. Mr. Langton waits impatiently, watch in hand, for the stipulated five minutes to pass. He is very anxious to have his way and spite Maud for her falsehood and disobedience. Inwardly he curses Vane's Quixotic foolishness in refusing a fortune, no matter how burdened. "The time is up," he says, impatiently. "Yes or no. Marry Reine to-night and I will make my will to-morrow, and leave everything to you and your wife. For the present, until my death, which can't be far off," with sardonic humor, "I'll settle twenty-five thousand a year upon you; refuse, and you both go." Vane Charteris turns upon him a white, desperate face. "For myself I despise your threat," he says. "I am a man. I can carve my own way to fortune, yet I should hate for Reine to blame me with her loss of fortune. Mr. Langton, I will marry her if she will have me." "Of course she will; no girl in her senses would refuse a handsome man like you, let alone the fortune," Mr. Langton cries, with returning good humor. "On one condition," Vane continues, haughtily. Mr. Langton lifts his eyebrows interrogatively. "This: that I may go abroad to-morrow to be absent a year--you may offer any evasive excuse to the bride--and that while I am gone you will train Reine to be a graceful, dignified woman, whom I can respect and honor." "Like Maud, for instance," Mr. Langton says. "Maud's manners were perfect," Vane answers, flushing. "I could not wish more grace and refinement for my own wife so that her heart is kept truer." "You are quite decided to go away?" Mr. Langton inquires, disappointed. "Yes," decidedly. "I can marry Reine, but I cannot live with her just yet." "Very well, you shall have your way. Now go and ask her if she will have you." "Where shall I find her?" "In her own room, I think. I have not seen her in all the bustle. I will wait here. If she says yes, bring her to me." And Vane turns away with a white, set face, to obey him. CHAPTER IV. Vane Charteris enters the room and motions the maid to withdraw, closes the door, and stands face to face with Reine Langton. It strikes him suddenly on what a ridiculous errand he has come. This morning he offended her, and she refused to pardon him. Tonight he has come to ask her to be his wife. But Reine--passionate, impulsive Reine--has quite forgotten all that now. After that one startled moment of indecision and surprise, she goes forward to him, she puts her small hand on his coat sleeve, she looks up into his white, haggard face with dark, pitying eyes.