She shook her head. "It is useless. My father will go straight home and give orders that I am not to be admitted."
"Oh, that is impossible. Think of the scandal."
"Papa does not mind the scandal. Already he has shown how far he is prepared to go by having me watched by Ranger. Oh"--she clenched her hand--"think of the disgrace of it all!"
"Then you must stay the night at some hotel."
"I cannot--I have no baggage. What hotel would take me in with no baggage? I have very little money too, and only the clothes I stand up in."
"Oh, the money doesn't matter, my darling. I can provide you with what you require," said Ralph, hastily; then muttered through his teeth: "But it is a confoundedly awkward situation in any case. Your father is a brute."
"He is what he has always been," said Audrey, with a tired sigh, for the late conversation had quite broken her up--"a man who has always had his own way. There is only one thing to be done"--and she rose.
"What is that?" asked Shawe, hopefully.
"I must go to the Pink Shop and throw myself on the mercy of my aunt."
Ralph brightened. "You clever darling to think of that," he said, looking at his watch. "It's half-past ten o'clock. I wonder if she will be still up?"