"It means emancipation,
wealth, everything we've lost back again, and more to it! Now do you
understand?"
She gasped for breath. She had turned very pale.
"Oh, Jerry!" she said tragically. "Jerry, why didn't this happen
before?"
He stared at her for a moment. Then, as understanding came to him, he
frowned with swift impatience.
"Oh, that must be broken off!" he said. "You can't marry that fellow
now. Why should you?"
Violet shook her head hopelessly.
"I've promised," she said; "promised to marry him at the end of next
month."
Jerry jumped up impulsively.
"But that's soon arranged," he declared. "Leave it to me. I'll explain."
"How can you?" questioned Violet.
"I shall put it on a purely business footing," he returned airily.
"Don't you worry yourself. He isn't the sort of chap to take it to
heart. You know that as well as I do. Perhaps it might be as well to
wait till the end of the week and make sure of things, though, before I
say anything."
But at this point Violet gave him the biggest surprise he had ever
known. She sprang to her feet with flashing eyes.
"Indeed you won't, Jerry!" she exclaimed. "You will tell him
to-day--this morning--and end it definitely. Never mind what happens
afterwards. I won't carry the dishonourable bargain to that length. I've
little enough self-respect left, but what there is of it I'll keep!"
"Heavens above!" ejaculated Jerry, in amazement.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253