"Quite true. You and Gloria seem to think I owe something; I never shirk a debt." Mrs. Gerard's fingers tightened painfully upon her daughter's arm as he continued: "There is only one condition upon which I insist: you must both return to Hope at once and have done with this—this man."
Natalie hesitated, but the look in her mother's eyes decided her. With some difficulty she forced herself to acquiesce, and felt the grip upon her arm suddenly relax. "When will the wedding take place?" she asked.
"At the earliest possible moment," Gordon declared, with well-feigned seriousness. "Once we return to God's country—"
"No!" cried Natalie. "We can't go back to Hope until she is married; it would be scandalous."
"Why more scandalous to accept my protection than that of a stranger? Do you care what these people think?" he demanded, with an air of fine scorn.
"Yes! I care very much."
"Is there any—reason for waiting?" Mrs. Gerard inquired.
"Many! Too many to enumerate. It is my condition that you both leave Omar at once."
Gloria Gerard looked at her daughter in troubled indecision, but Natalie answered firmly:
"We can't do that."