portunity of
helping or advising him--but also to take no steps to find out whether
the woman he was going to marry was--not only unsuitable, wholly
unsuitable--that, of course, he knows--but _a disgrace_? I argued with
him that he must have some suspicion of the stories she has told him at
different times, or he wouldn't have tried to protect himself in this
particular way. He didn't deny it; but he said she had looked after him,
and been kind to him, when nobody else was, and he should feel a beast
if he pressed her too hardly."

"'When nobody else was'!" repeated Lady Dunstable, scornfully, her voice
trembling with bitterness. "Really, Mrs. Meadows, it is very difficult
for me to believe that my son ever used such words!"

Doris hesitated, then she raised her eyes, and with the happy feeling of
one applying the scourge, in the name of Justice, she said with careful
mildness:--

"I hope you will forgive me for telling you--but I feel as if I oughtn't
to keep back anything--Mr. Dunstable said to me: 'My mother might have
prevented it--but--she was never interested in me.'"

Another indignant exclamation from Lady Dunstable. Doris hurried on.
"Only this is the important point! At last I got his promise, and I got
it in writing. I have it here."

Dead silence. Doris opened her little handbag, took out a letter, in an
open envelope, and handed it to Lady Dunstable, who at first seemed as
if she were going to refuse it. However, after a moment's hesitation,
she lifted her long-handled eyeglass and read it. It ran as follows:

DEAR MRS. MEADOWS,--I do not know whether I ought to do what you ask
me. But you have asked me very kindly--you have really been awfully
good to me, in taking so much trouble. I know I'm a stupid
fool--they always told me so at home. But I don't want to do
anything mean, or to go back on a woman who once did me a good turn;
with whom also once--for I may as well be quite honest about it--I
thought I was in love. However, I see there is something in what you
say, and I will wait a week before marrying Miss Flink. But if you
tell my people--I suppose you will--don't let them imagine they can
break it off--except for that one reason. And _I_ shan't lift a
finger to break it off. I shall make no inquiries--I shall go on
with the lawyers, and all that. My present intention is to marry
Miss Flink--on the terms I have stated--in a week's time. If you