She heard, and there came into her mind the story of Cheeseman’s debt.  That was of ten pounds.  The purchase her father had been obliged to make, of that also she had heard.  Last night, and again this morning, her mother had incessantly marvelled at this money having been at length returned; it was an incredible thing, she had said; only the sight of the coins could convince her of its truth.  Emily’s mind worked over the details of the previous evening with terrible rapidity and insight.  To her directly her father had spoken not a word of the repayment; he had bidden her keep in another room while he informed her mother of it; he had shown disinclination to return to the subject when, later, they all sat together.  ‘Well, here it is,’ he had said, ’and we’ll talk no more about it.’  She heard those words exactly as they were spoken, and she knew their tone was not natural; even at the time that had struck her, but her thought had not dwelt upon it.

She almost forgot Dagworthy’s presence; he and his threats were of small account in this shaking of the depths of her nature.  She was awakened by his voice.

‘Do you think I am lying to you for my own purposes?’

‘I cannot say,’ she answered, with unnatural calm.  ’It is more likely than that what you say is true.’

He, by now, had attained a self-control which would not desert him.  So far in crime, there was no turning back; he could even enjoy the anticipation of each new move in the game, certain of winning.  He could be cruel now for cruelty’s sake; it was a form of fruition.

‘Well,’ he said, ’it is your own concern whether you believe me or not.  If you wish for evidence, you shall have it, the completest.  What I have to say is this.  From now till Monday morning your father is free.  Whether I have him arrested then or not depends upon yourself.  If you consent to become my wife as soon as it is possible for us to be married, neither you nor he will ever hear another word of the matter.  What’s more, I will at once put him in a position of comfort.  If you refuse, there will be a policeman ready to arrest him as soon as he comes to the mill; if he tries to escape, a warrant will be issued.  In any case he will be ruined.’

Then, after a pause—­

’So you have till to-morrow night to make up your mind.  You can either send me a note or come and see me; I shall be at home whenever you come.’

Emily stood in silence.

‘I hope you quite understand what I mean,’ Dagworthy continued, as if discussing an ordinary matter of business.  ’No one will ever dream that your father has done anything to be ashamed of.  After all, it is not so impossible that you should marry me for my own sake;’—­he said it with bitterness.  ’People will see nothing to wonder at.  Fortunately, no one knows of that—­of what you told me.  Your father and mother will be easy for the rest of their lives, and without a suspicion that there has been anything but what appears on the surface.  I needn’t say how things are likely to look in the other event.’