of nights.  Then, for sheer easing of her heart, she went to her adored Betty Fairfax, her Lady Patroness and Mother Confessor, who, being wise and strong, and possessing the power of making her kind eyes unfathomable, laughed, bade her believe her father’s explanation, and sent her away comforted.  The incident passed out of her mind.  But now memory smote her, as she shrank from her father’s gaze and the insincere smile on his thin lips.

“For one thing,” he replied after a pause, pulling his straggly beard, “your poor dear mother was a lady, and if she had lived she would have wanted you to marry a gentleman.  It’s for her sake I’ve given you an education that fits you to consort with gentlefolk—­ just for her sake—­don’t make any mistake about it, for I’ve always hated the breed.  If I’ve violated my principles in order to meet her wishes, I think you ought to meet them too.  You wouldn’t like to marry a small tradesman or a working man, would you?”

“I’m not going to marry anybody,” cried Phyllis.  She was only a pink and white, very ordinary little girl.  I have no idealisations or illusions concerning Phyllis.  But she had a little fine steel of character running through her.  It flashed on Gedge.

“I don’t want to marry anybody,” she declared.  “But I’d sooner marry a bricklayer who was fighting for his country than a fine gentleman like Mr. Holmes who wasn’t.  I’d sooner die,” she cried passionately.

“Then go and die and be damned to you!” snarled Gedge, planting himself noisily in his chair.  “I’ve no use for khaki-struck drivelling idiots.  I’ve no use for patriots.  Bah!  Damn patriots!  The upper classes are out for all they can get, and they befool the poor imbecile working man with all their highfalutin phrases to get it for them at the cost of his blood.  I’ve no use for them, I tell you.  And I’ve no use either for undutiful daughters.  I’ve no use for young women who blow hot and cold.  Haven’t I seen you with the fellow?  Do you think I’m a blind dodderer?  Do you think I haven’t kept an eye on you?  Haven’t I seen you blowing as hot as you please?  And now because he refuses to be a blinking idiot and have his guts blown out in this war of fools and knaves and capitalists, you blast him like a three-farthing iceberg.”

Everything in her that was tender, maidenly, English, shrank lacerated.  But the steel held her.  She put both her hands on the table and bent over towards him.

“But, father, except that he’s a gentleman, you haven’t told me why you want me to marry Mr. Holmes.”

He fidgeted with his fingers.  “Haven’t you a spark of affection for me left?”

She said dutifully, “Yes, father.”

“I want you to marry him.  I’ve set my heart on it.  It has been the one bright hope in my life for months.  Can’t you marry him because you love me?”

“One generally marries because one loves the man one’s going to marry,” said Phyllis.