er that may be, but tell me
what you mean, or I'll, I'll----" and she stopped.

Then he told her--well, not quite everything, for he omitted his
father's disparaging remarks about herself.

She listened in her intent fashion, and filled in the gaps without
difficulty.

"I see," she said. "Your father thinks that I am corrupting you about
religion, as though anybody could corrupt you when you have got an idea
into your stupid head; at least, on those subjects. Oh! I hate him,
worse even than I do my own, worse than you do yourself."

Godfrey, thinking aloud, began to quote the Fourth Commandment. She cut
him short:

"Honour my father!" she said. "Why should we honour our fathers unless
they are worthy of honour? What have we to thank them for?"

"Life," suggested Godfrey.

"Why? You believe that life comes from God, and so do I in a way. If
so, what has a father to do with it who is just a father and no more?
With mothers perhaps it is different, but you see I love my mother and
he treats her like--like a dog, or worse," and her grey eyes filled
with tears. "However, it is your father we are talking of, and there is
no commandment telling me to honour _him_. I say I hate him and he
hates me, and that's why he is sending you away. Well, I hope you won't
find anyone to contaminate you in Switzerland."

"Oh! Isobel, Isobel," he broke out, "don't be so bitter, especially as
it is of no use. Besides after all you have got everything that a girl
can have--money and position and looks----"

"Looks!" she exclaimed, seizing on the last word, "when you know I am
as ugly as a toad."

He stared at her.

"I don't know it; I think you beautiful."

"Wait till you see someone else and you will change your mind," she
snapped, flushing.

"And you are going to come out," he went on hastily.

"Yes, at a fancy ball in this Plantagenet lady's dress, but I almost
wish I was--to go out instead--like her."

"And I daresay you will soon be married," he blurted, losing his head
for she bewildered him.

"Married! Oh! you idiot. Do you know what marriage means--to a woman?
Married! I can bear no more of this. Goodbye," and turning she walked,
or rather ran into the darkness, leaving him amazed and alone.

This was the last time that Godfrey spoke with Isobel for a long while.
Next morning he received a note addressed in her clear and peculiar
writing, which from the angular formation of the letters and their
regularity, at