"I'm going," she said, and her voice was like steel. "I'm going," said Bab, saying it between her teeth, and over her shoulder she gave Varick at the same time a look. Its air of disdain Mr. Mapleson did not miss. Neither did he miss the break in her voice, a note of hurt, of outrage, and nervously he put out his hand to halt her. "No, don't stop me!" she said, and pushed his hand aside. "It's true! It's true what they told me about him! He's just what they said he was!"
Varick's face was like a mask. He did not speak; he made no effort, so much as by a look, even to answer her.
Again after a glance at him Mr. Mapleson stammered: "What is it? Why, what is it?"
Bab answered with a laugh.
"Ask him!" she said; that was all. The next instant she had gone hurrying down the stairs. Then presently, far below, the street door slammed. At the sound, his eyes still on Varick's, Mr. Mapleson shuddered involuntarily.
"What is it?" once more he whispered. "Tell me what you've done."
Varick's face did not alter.
"I tried to save her," he said; "I did my best I asked her to marry me."
"To save her?" echoed the little man, and a gasp escaped him. "To save her!"