the firm, and have
practically said `Goodbye' to the Works. It is a bad business, and very
hard on you; but, as Maud has been reminding me, I am young and strong,
and we must not be cast down by a first failure. If you will have faith
in me, and will wait a few years, all will come right yet."

He paused, and Lilias stared at him with incredulous eyes. Her glance
wandered from him to Maud, from Maud around the pretty luxurious room,
through the window to the garden beyond, and finally back to his face.
Her lips moved, and the words came out in spasmodic snatches.

"You have resigned? You threw it up? You did it of your own accord, in
spite of all I could say--of my wishes and entreaties? It is your own
doing?"

Ned dropped the hand which he held in his, and straightened his
shoulders with a gesture at once proud and determined. His voice took a
sharper edge, and the gentleness died out of his face.

"Yes, it is my own doing, Lilias, in this last instance, but you know
what has driven me to it. I have told you in what position I was
placed. I could not stay on without sacrificing every sense of honour.
Surely you can understand and sympathise with me in my misfortune?"

Lilias laughed, a high, hysterical laugh, and threw back her head with a
defiant gesture.

"Oh, I understand--yes! I have understood all the time. Your
ridiculous quixotic notions have ruined your life, and you don't care if
they ruin mine also. You think of your own feelings, your own
discomforts, but you never think of _met_ If you really loved me, you
would bear a few discomforts for my sake; but no! it must all go, you
must throw it all away. I begged, I implored, I did everything that was
in my power to prevent it coming to this. You can't deny that I did?"

"No, Lilias, I cannot. I am bitterly grieved to remember that you have
systematically urged me to act against my conscience." It was an
unexpected answer, almost awful in its unflinching sternness, and Lilias
greeted it by a burst of weeping.

"Oh yes, yes, blame me! blame me! It's not enough that you have brought
this misery upon me, but now you must begin to abuse me to my face! It
is cruel and cowardly to turn against me like this!"

"Hush, Lilias, oh, hush, hush!" Maud stood before her--Maud's fingers
gripped her arm in remonstrance.

"Think what you are saying. You are surprised and shocked; but you must
not, you shall not talk so wildly! Ned is in trouble, an