Wagge's thick figure seemed to writhe. "Pardon me, ma'am," he
spluttered, "but I must call your husband a scoundrel. I'm sorry to be
impolite, but I must do it. If I had 'im 'ere, I don't know that I
should be able to control myself--I don't indeed." Gyp made a movement
of her gloved hands, which he seemed to interpret as sympathy, for he
went on in a stream of husky utterance: "It's a delicate thing before a
lady, and she the injured party; but one has feelings. From the first I
said this dancin' was in the face of Providence; but women have no more
sense than an egg. Her mother she would have it; and now she's got it!
Career, indeed! Pretty career! Daughter of mine! I tell you, ma'am, I'm
angry; there's no other word for it--I'm angry. If that scoundrel comes
within reach of me, I shall mark 'im--I'm not a young man, but I shall
mark 'im. An' what to say to you, I'm sure I don't know. That my
daughter should be'ave like that! Well, it's made a difference to me.
An' now I suppose her name'll be dragged in the mud. I tell you frankly
I 'oped you wouldn't hear of it, because after all the girl's got her
punishment. And this divorce-court--it's not nice--it's a horrible thing
for respectable people. And, mind you, I won't see my girl married to
that scoundrel, not if you do divorce 'im. No; she'll have her disgrace
for nothing."

Gyp, who had listened with her head a little bent, raised it suddenly,
and said:

"There'll be no public disgrace, Mr. Wagge, unless you make it yourself.
If you send Daphne--Daisy--quietly away somewhere till her trouble's
over, no one need know anything."

Mr. Wagge, whose mouth had opened slightly, and whose breathing could
certainly have been heard in the street, took a step forward and said:

"Do I understand you to say that you're not goin' to take proceedings,
ma'am?"

Gyp shuddered, and shook her head.

Mr. Wagge stood silent, slightly moving his face up and down.

"Well," he said, at length, "it's more than she deserves; but I don't
disguise it's a relief to me. And I must say, in a young lady like you,
and--and handsome, it shows a Christian spirit." Again Gyp shivered, and
shook her head. "It does. You'll allow me to say so, as a man old
enough to be your father--and a regular attendant."

He held out his hand. Gyp put her gloved hand into it.

"I'm very, very sorry. Please be nice to her."

Mr. Wagge recoiled a little, and for some seconds stood ruefully