end."

XVIII.

John Storm wrote a letter to Mrs. Callender explaining Polly Love's
situation and asking her to call on the girl immediately, and then he
went out in search of Lord Robert Ure at the address he had discovered in
the report.

He found the man alone on his arrival, but Drake came in soon afterward.
Lord Robert received him with a chilly bow; Drake offered his hand
coldly; neither of them requested him to sit.

"You are surprised at my visit, gentlemen," said John, "but I have just
now been present at a painful scene, and I thought it necessary that you
should know something about it."

Then he described what had occurred in the board room, and in doing so
dwelt chiefly on the abjectness of the girl's humiliation. Lord Robert
stood by the window rapping a tune on the window pane, and Drake sat in a
low chair with his legs stretched out and his hands in his trousers
pockets.

"But I am at a loss to understand why you have thought it necessary to
come here to tell that story," said Lord Robert.

"Lord Robert," said John, "you understand me perfectly."

"Excuse me, Mr. Storm, I do not understand you in the least."

"Then I will not ask you if you are responsible for the girl's position."

"Don't."

"But I will ask you a simpler and easier question."

"What is it?"

"When are you going to marry her?"

Lord Robert burst into ironical laughter and faced round to Drake.

"Well, these men--these curates--their assurance, don't you know... May I
ask your reverence what is _your_ position in this matter--your standing,
don't you know?"

"That of chaplain of the hospital."

"But you say she has been, turned out of it."

"Very well, Lord Robert, merely that of a man who intends to protect an
injured woman."

"Oh, I know," said Lord Robert dryly, "I understand these heroics. I've
heard of your sermons, Mr. Storm--your interviews with ladies, and so
forth."

"And I have heard of your doings with girls," said John. "What are you
going to do for this one?"

"Exactly what I please."

"Take care! You know what the girl is. It's precisely such girls---- At
this moment she is tottering on the brink of hell, Lord Robert. If
anything further should happen--if you should disappoint her--she is
looking to you and building up hopes--if she should fall still lower and
destroy herself body and soul----"

"My dear Mr. Storm, please understand that I shall do everything or
nothing for the girl exact