fond
of simple things. We must live. We must have money."

"We live extravagantly," he said.

"All my life I have lived extravagantly," she answered. "Why should I
change now? I have but a few years to live. I cannot bear small rooms,
or cheap servants, or bad cooking."

"We have some money left," he said. "Come with me into the country. We
can live there for very little. Soon my book will be ready. Then the
lectures will begin. There will be money enough when people begin to
understand."

"No!" she said. "There is only one way. I have spoken of it to you
before. You must marry that foolish girl Lois Champneyes."

"What do you know about her?" he asked, looking up, startled.

"I have made inquiries," Rachael answered. "It is the usual thing in
the countries I know of. She will be of age in a short time, and she
will have one hundred and seventy thousand pounds. Upon that you can
live until our time comes, and you can afford to keep this house
going."

"I do not want to marry," he said.

Her hand shot out towards him--an accusing hand; her eyes flashed fire
as she leaned forward, gripping the arm of the chair with her other
fingers.

"Listen," she said, "I took you from the gutter. I saved you from
starvation. I showed you the way to ease and luxury. I taught you
things which have set your brain working, which shall fashion for you,
if you dare to follow it, the way to greatness. I saved your life. I
planted your feet upon the earth. Your life is mine. Your future is
mine. What is this sacrifice that I demand? Nothing! Don't refuse me.
I warn you, Bertrand, don't refuse me! There are limits to my patience
as there are limits to my generosity and my affection. If you refuse,
it can be but for one reason, and that reason you will not dare to
tell me. Do you refuse? Answer me, now, I will have no more evasions."

"She would not marry me," he said. "I have not seen her for days."

"Where is she?" Rachael demanded.

"In the country, at Beauleys," he answered. "The Rochesters have all
left town yesterday or to-day, and she went with them."

"Then into the country we go," she declared. "It is an opportune
time, too. We shall be out of the way if troubles come from these
interfering people. I do not ask you again, Bertrand, whether you will
or will not marry this girl. For the first time I exercise my rights
over you. I demand that you marry her. Be as faithless as you like.
You are as fickle as a man can be, a