savage laugh. 'Well, yes,' he said, 'I
think perhaps I _have_ had enough at last. You have been kind enough
to put your remarks very plainly. I hope, for your own sake, I may
never have a chance of making you any return for all this.'

'I hope so too,' she said; 'I think you would use it.'

'Thanks for your good opinion,' he said, as he went to the door. 'I
shall do my best, if the time comes, to deserve it.'

She had never faltered during the whole of this interview. A righteous
anger had given her courage to declare all the scorn and indignation
she felt. But now, as the front door closed upon him, the strength
that had sustained her so long gave way all at once; she sank
trembling into one of the low cushioned chairs, and presently the
reaction completed itself in tears, which she had not quite repressed
when Dolly came in to look for her.

'Has he gone?' she began; and then, as she saw her sister's face,
'Mabel! Harold hasn't been bullying _you_?'

'No, darling, no,' said Mabel, putting her arms round Dolly's waist.
'It's silly of me to cry, isn't it? for Harold will not trouble either
of us again after this.'

* * * * *

Meanwhile Harold was striding furiously down the other side of the
hill in the direction of Kensal Green, paying very little heed where
his steps might be leading him, in the dull rage which made his brain
whirl.

Mabel's soft and musical voice, for it had not ceased to be that, even
when her indignation was at its highest, rang still in his ears. He
could not forget her bitter scornful speeches; they were lashing and
stinging him to the soul.

He had indeed been hoist with his own petard; the very adroitness with
which he had contrived to get rid of an inconvenient rival had only
served to destroy his own chances for ever.

He knew that never again would Mabel suffer him to approach her on the
old friendly footing--it would be much if she could bring herself to
treat him with ordinary civility--he had lost her for ever, and hated
her accordingly from the bottom of his heart. 'If I can ever humble
you as you have humbled me to-day, God help you, my charming Mabel!'
he said to himself. 'To think that that little fool of a child should
have let out everything, at the very moment when I had the game in my
own hands! I have to thank that distinguished novelist, Mr. Mark
Ashburn, for that, though; _he_ must trouble himself to put his spoke
in my wheel, must he