to protect you from insult--I want to take you out of these
miserable conditions--and there's only one way to do that,' he pleaded.

He took her hands in his and kissed them passionately. 'Oh, I love you.
There's nothing in the world I would not do to make you my wife. Why
should you hesitate? It breaks my heart to see you unappreciated,
neglected, living the sort of rough life that might suit a labourer's
daughter, but which is sacrilege for Lady Bridget O'Hara. A man had no
right to condemn a beautiful, refined woman like you to such a fate....
Well there' as she murmured incoherently, 'I'll not say any more about
that since it hurts you. You see, I respect your wishes. I'll even go
away at once, if you command it, and leave you to form your own
judgment. I will stay in Leichardt's Town--in Sydney--anywhere--until
you have decided for yourself--as I know you must do--how impossible it
is for you to remain here. Then I will meet you wherever you please,
and we will go to Europe together--bury ourselves abroad--wait in any
part of the world you may choose, until the divorce proceedings are
over, and we are free to marry. You need not be afraid of scandal, the
thing can be kept out of the English papers. It's so far away that
nobody will remember you were married to an Australian. Besides,
anything of the sort is so easily got over nowadays. My darling, why do
you look at me with those tragic eyes? It is not like the old Biddy to
be a slave to Mrs Grundy.'

She had been listening, sitting rigid in her chair, her hands still in
his, looking at him in a strange fixed manner, almost like a person in
the first stage of hypnotism. Now she snatched her hands away and gave
a sobbing cry.

'Oh, I'm not the old Biddy. I never can be again.'

'Dear love--believe me, when I promise you that you shall never have
cause for regret.'

He would have taken her into his arms, but she drew herself back.

'Will, you don't understand. And I don't understand myself, I can't see
things clearly. It's all been so sudden--Colin going
away--you--everything.... I want to be alone. I want to find myself.'

He moved aside with a slight inclination of his head as if to let her
pass. 'I told you that I would do anything you wish.'

'You mean that--really? Then I wish you to go away at once. You said
you would leave me to decide for myself. I take you at your word, and I
shall write to you, by-and-by. Promise me that you will go.'

'I have no