id slowly. "I'm not going away in any case.
It's preposterous to suppose that I could be absent while such a
discussion was going on. Elma knows that this is a matter of life and
death to me. If you persuade her to give me up, it will be sending me
straight to the devil!"

Mrs Ramsden's eyes flashed with anger.

"If an earthly love is the only incentive you have to follow the paths
of righteousness, Mr Greville, that is a poor inducement to me to give
my child into your care! I have brought her up to put principle first
of all. It is my chief objection to yourself that your character is not
worthy of the trust!"

"My dear lady, he is not a pickpocket! You speak as if he were a
hardened criminal," cried Madame, with an irritated laugh. "Geoffrey
may not be a saint, but I assure you that, considered as a young man of
the world, he is quite a model specimen! He has been an excellent son.
There have been no debts; no troubles of any kind. Absolutely, at times
I have accused him of being almost too staid. ... One can only be young
once!..."

"I think you and Mrs Ramsden have somewhat different standards,
mother," put in Geoffrey quietly. He turned towards the last-mentioned
lady, bending forward and speaking with deliberate emphasis. "I quite
agree with you, Mrs Ramsden, that I am unworthy of your daughter. I
wish I had been a better man for her sake. With her to help me I hope I
might become a man more after your own heart. As my mother says, I have
so far been a respectable member of society, for the things which you
condemn in me are after all matters of opinion, but at this moment I
stand at the parting of the ways. If you give me Elma, I shall look
upon her as a sacred trust, and shall be a better man for her sake. I
_must_ be a better man with her beside me! ... If you refuse; if she
refuses"--he shrugged expressively--"you empty my life of all I value.
The responsibility will be upon your shoulders!"

"That is not true! You can depute to nobody the responsibility of your
own soul," Mrs Ramsden began solemnly, but Madame interrupted with an
impatient gesture.

"I thought Geoffrey was not to interfere! For pity's sake don't let us
waste time talking sentiment! We are here to discuss this matter in a
sensible, business manner. Let us begin at once, and not waste time!"

To her surprise Elma met her glance with a smile. A happy, composed
little smile, which brought the dimples into her soft