“Mr Crellock is right,” said Crellock in a voice of thunder, “and Mr Eaton is wrong. He is saying good-bye; and now, Robert Hallam, will you tell him why?”
“Yes,” said Hallam firmly; “Mr Eaton should have spoken to me, and I would have explained at once that Mr Stephen Crellock has proposed for my daughter’s hand, and I have promised that she shall be his wife.”
“But this is monstrous!” cried Eaton furiously. “Julie, I have your mother’s consent. You will be mine?”
Julia looked at him pityingly and shook her head.
“Speak! for heaven’s sake, speak!” cried Eaton.
“No,” she said in a low pained voice. “You have mistaken me, Mr Eaton. I could never be your wife.”
Eaton turned to Mrs Hallam to meet her agonised, despairing eyes, and then without a word he left the room.
For the blow had fallen; the shadow Millicent Hallam had seen athwart her daughter’s life had assumed consistency, and as the thought of her own fate came with its dull despairing pain, she caught Julia to her breast to protect her from Crellock, and faced him like some wild creature standing at bay in defence of her young.