utches of Absalom & Co. This was as specious as his other moralizing,
and he never imagined that he had fallen into a trap set by Copley. What
he wanted was some one to vent his anger upon.

"Where have you been?" he asked irritably. "I have been looking for you
everywhere. I have just been having a conversation about you with Mr.
Copley. He wants to know----"

"He already does know," May said coldly. "I thought I had made that
quite clear. I shall be glad if you will not allude to this again. It is
most distasteful to me."

Sir George brought his fist with a bang on the table.

"You are a fool," he cried. "I beg pardon, but I can't think of any
other word. You don't seem to realize what obligations we are under to
Mr. Copley. Do you know that if he liked he could turn us out of the
house to-morrow? Do you know that even this morning he has saved us from
a great disgrace? And he has done all this out of affection for you. I
can assure you that Mr. Raymond Copley is not the man to be played
with."

"My dear father," May protested, "why this violence? I don't in the
least want to play with Mr. Copley."

"Oh, this is no joking matter. You ought to be proud to think that a man
like that is ready to lay his wealth at your feet. Now, I want you to
understand that if you treat him in this way he will very likely teach
you a lesson. It is no use beating about the bush. We are in his hands.
And, therefore, you must marry him."

"Must, my dear father. Surely----"

"Oh, I am not going to listen to any more. I won't argue with you. You
are either going to marry Mr. Copley or I wash my hands of you
altogether. I will not be ruined for the mere whim of a girl. Now you
quite understand me? If this thing isn't settled to-morrow, Haredale
will be no place for you."

CHAPTER XXXI

A POINT-BLANK REFUSAL

It was a cruel shock to the girl. She had never heard her father speak
like that before; indeed, she would not have deemed him capable of such
harshness. For many years May and her father had been the best of
friends; indeed, their relationship had been more like brother and
sister than anything else. She had shared in Sir George's pleasures, she
had known most of his troubles, and generally had been allowed to do
exactly as she pleased. And if she had a proper sense of pride, it was
Sir George who was mainly responsible for it. He had never forgotten
that he was the master of Haredale Park, and that the family had l