"Work?" he gasped. "I—work?"
"Then I will support you. Beth and I."
"No, no!" he said in despair. "I couldn't stand it; I couldn't exist. At my age; think of that!" and his tone turned to pleading.
She heard a footstep at the threshold, and there was Ellis. He entered and spoke to her. "I couldn't wait. Miss Blanchard, has not your father persuaded you?"
She turned upon him with flaming eye. "How did you first persuade him? Did you offer to release his debt?"
"So," he snarled to the Colonel, "you have told!"
The Colonel stepped away from the venomous gleam of his teeth. "She made me," he stammered.
"Made you!"
"There is no advantage in discussing this, Mr. Ellis," said Judith.