"Then you ought to be ashamed to say so. I am the affianced wife of another man."
"Allen Scott?"
"Yes," said Dora with emphasis, "Dr. Allen Scott.
"Bah! Why should you think of him? Has he stood by you in this trouble? Not he! He left you to fight the matter out by yourself. Besides, there are reasons why you should not marry him."
Dora's heart beat rapidly. Was she about to learn the truth? Had her rebuff brought about the desired result, and would this old man reveal what so long had been hidden? She believed that such was the case, and could scarcely manage, so intense was her excitement, to ask the necessary question to lure him on to a full confession. However, by an effort of will she managed to keep her voice fairly steady.
"Are there any special reasons that you know of?"
"Several!" snarled Joad, rubbing his hands together, with an evil glitter in his eyes.
"I should be glad to hear them," she said in the tone of an empress.
"I dare say you would; but I don't intend to tell you what they are."
"Why not?" demanded Dora, trying to hide her disappointment at this unlooked-for result.