"Not yet," she answered to her beating heart that longed to defy him. "It seems to me that in your peculiar situation, being a mere dependent on Mrs. Leslie's charity, that the sooner you have a home and a husband the better for you," he continued, coarsely. "I am most anxious to take you back to your mother with the good tidings we have to carry her. Do you remember, Irene, that the longer you delay our marriage the more you prolong your mother's pain?" "I remember," she said, in a stifled voice. "Then will you not consent to name this day week for our wedding-day? "So soon? No, I will not," she flashed back, in indignant surprise. "For your mother's sake," he pleaded artfully. "Not for an angel's sake!" declared Irene angrily. Her lover was dumfounded at this indignant denial. "How soon, then, can I count upon your fulfilment of your promise?" he demanded, in a crestfallen tone. The girl's red lips trembled with the defiant answer, "Never," but she bit them hard to keep back the passionate word. She knew his power, and though she felt that the threatening sword that hung over her head must fall at last, she dreaded to utter the word that must precipitate its downfall. "I have not thought about that matter yet," she said, determined to temporize with the wretch, and gain a few days' respite. "I supposed it lay far away in the future. I hoped so at least." "I hope you will give it your earliest attention, then," he replied, sullenly. "I have no mind to wait long, I can assure you." "How long will be the limit of your patience?" she inquired sarcastically. "I shall wait two weeks on your pleasure. If you are not ready then to keep your promise I shall throw prudence to the winds and reveal all," he answered, stung by her scorn and goaded to retaliation. Her beautiful blue eyes flashed scorn and contempt upon him. "Wretch," she cried, "how I hate you! Leave my presence instantly, and do not intrude upon me again to-day. I am free yet, and I will not tolerate you until I am compelled to do so. Go this instant!" The flash of her eye assured him that prudence was the better part of valor. He rose angrily. "Very well, since you choose to play the shrew!" he said, "enjoy your liberty while you may! I assure you it will not last long once you are legally mine!" And with a muttered curse on his lips he stalked angrily away, his heart full of blended love and hate for his beautiful, disdainful betrothed. CHAPTER XXXIX. "Mrs. Leslie, I want to ask you one question," said Guy Kenmore. They two were walking in the wide, beautiful villa-garden among the roses and lilies and beautiful crimson flowers drooping from grand white marble vases. The sun shone on the beautiful terraced walks, on the sparkling fountains, and the glistening green leaves and golden fruit of the orange and lemon trees, the air perfumed with the fragrance of countless flowers.