She inclined her head as if he had put the question in words.
"Yes," she said.

"I shall die.

You remember my mother?
I shall follow her--" He uttered a low, hoarse cry, and caught her hands and held them; then he flung them from him, and standing with his back to her, said, thickly, as if every word were forced from him: "You shall have your way! You always have had, like your mother before you--you always will.

But mark my words: you'll live to curse the hour you forced me to do this!" She drew a long breath--it was almost a sigh--of relief, and she laid her hands on his arms and kissed him on the forehead.
"I'll risk that," she said, with a tremulous laugh.
There was a silence for a moment, then she said, calmly: "You will play your part carefully, father?
You will let Sir Stephen think that Stafford desires it: you will be careful ?" He turned upon her with an oath.
"You'd best leave it to me," he said, savagely.

"I'll try and save you from shame all I can.