caused the morning's
trouble standing there unharmed. The fact of Stratton being uninjured
and making so insulting a demand half maddened him, and, seizing his
collar, he was bearing him back, when Guest interposed, and separated
them.

"This will do no good, Sir Mark," he cried. "For everybody's sake, sir,
be calm."

"Calm!" roared the old sailor furiously.

"Yes, Mark, calm," whispered his sister, clinging to him firmly. "Is it
the act of an officer and a gentleman to behave like this?"

"You don't know--you cannot feel as I do," he raged.

"For Myra's sake," whispered Miss Jerrold quickly; and the old man made
an effort and calmed down.

"Let him explain then. Let him say what it means. A public insult. To
be degraded like this. And after what is past."

Meanwhile Stratton was looking wildly about him. The sweat stood in
great drops upon his haggard face, and he trembled violently, though it
was apparent to his friend that he was fighting hard to be composed.

Guest turned to Sir Mark.

"Thank you, sir," he said. "There must, as I have said, be good reasons
for poor Stratton's actions. Pray be patient with him. You see, sir--
you see, Miss Jerrold, he is ill and suffering. Now, Stratton, for
Heaven's sake speak out. You must explain. Tell Sir Mark what it is."

"Take them away," said Stratton in a hoarse whisper; "take them away."

"Yes, yes, but say something. What is it--some sudden attack? Come,
man, don't look at me in that ghastly way; are you ill?"

"No--no. I don't know," faltered Stratton.

"Then you must have some explanation to make."

"No--no. None. Go!"

"Mark--my dear brother," whispered Miss Jerrold.

"Flesh and blood can't stand it, girl," he panted, with the veins in his
temples purple; and snatching himself away, he thrust Guest aside and
once more seized Stratton--this time by the arms.

"Now, sir," he said hoarsely, "I know I ought to leave you in contempt
for your cursed shilly-shallying, pusillanimous conduct, but with my
poor child's agonised past before me, I can't behave as a polished
gentleman should."

Stratton glared at him in silence, with the pallor increasing, and his
face assuming a bluish-grey tinge.

"I came here believing--no, trying to believe--that you had been taken
ill; that there was good reason for my child being once more exposed to
a cruel public shame that must make her the byword of society. I ask
you for an explanation, and in t