e following day
she discussed the matter with Lopez himself. "Of course you will go
with me," he said, when she asked the question.

"You mean that I must, whether I wish to go or not."

"Certainly you must. Good G----! where is a wife's place? Am I to go
out without my child, and without you, while you are enjoying all
the comforts of your father's wealth at home? That is not my idea of
life."

"Ferdinand, I have been thinking about it very much. I must beg you
to allow me to remain. I ask it of you as if I were asking my life."

"Your father has put you up to this."

"No;--not to this."

"To what then?"

"My father thinks that I should refuse to go."

"He does, does he?"

"But I shall not refuse. I shall go if you insist upon it. There
shall be no contest between us about that."

"Well; I should hope not."

"But I do implore you to spare me."

"That is very selfish, Emily."

"Yes,"--she said, "yes. I cannot contradict that. But so is the man
selfish who prays the judge to spare his life."

"But you do not think of me. I must go."

"I shall not make you happier, Ferdinand."

"Do you think that it is a fine thing for a man to live in such a
country as that all alone?"

"I think he would be better so than with a wife he does not--love."

"Who says I do not love you?"

"Or with one who does--not--love him." This she said very slowly,
very softly, but looking up into his eyes as she said it.

"Do you tell me that to my face?"

"Yes;--what good can I do now by lying? You have not been to me as I
thought you would be."

"And so, because you have built up some castle in the air that has
fallen to pieces, you tell your husband to his face that you do not
love him, and that you prefer not to live with him. Is that your idea
of duty?"

"Why have you been so cruel?"

"Cruel! What have I done? Tell me what cruelty. Have I beat
you? Have you been starved? Have I not asked and implored your
assistance,--only to be refused? The fact is that your father and you
have found out that I am not a rich man, and you want to be rid of
me. Is that true or false?"

"It is not true that I want to be rid of you because you are poor."

"I do not mean to be rid of you. You will have to settle down and do
your work as my wife in whatever place it may suit me to live. Your
father is a rich man, but you shall not have the advantage of his
wealth unless it comes to you, as it ought to come, through my hands.
If your