A queer little smile curled her lips. Her heart beat with a sudden exultant thought.
Fate had placed it out of her power to sacrifice herself for her mother's sake. She could not but be glad, although her heart bled for that mother's griefs and wrongs.
"Shall I tell him?" she asked herself, almost tempted to defy him then and there.
Her weak heart failed her at the thought of the story the wretch would pour into Mrs. Leslie's ears. How would she meet pity and contempt in those dear eyes that had looked at her so kindly.
"I will wait. I cannot tell him yet," she concluded, weakly.
But his next words fell like a thunder-clap on her startled hearing. "Irene, I wish you would name an early day for our marriage," he said.
"Early," she stammered, taken aback.
He smiled grimly.
"Yes, it's a mere bargain, you know, and, like all business compacts, should be ratified early."
She quivered all over with resentment at his tone, but she held her peace.