"I'm not going to marry you," said Beulah abruptly.

"Announcements like that," said Mr. Harte, not noticeably abashed, "should never be made in crowded tea-shops. Besides, it isn't true."

"It is true! I can't possibly marry you! I ought to have seen that at the start!"

"Why? Have you got a husband who's an RC and won't give you a divorce, or any little thing like that?" enquired Timothy, interested.

"No, of course not!"

"Oh, well, then we needn't worry!"

"That's what you think!" said Beulah crudely. "Look here, I - the thing is - There are things in my life you don't know anything about!"

"Good God, I should hope there were!" retorted Timothy. "I've only known you a month!"

"And some of them you wouldn't like!"

"I daresay. Come to think of it, I can tell you of one thing in your young life I don't like right now, and that's Mr. Daniel Seaton-Carew."