’Job was once rather comfortably off, Lady Kirkbank; and I can answer for it that Montesma’s wife will know none of the pangs of poverty.’

‘If you were a beggar I would not care,’ said Lesbia, drawing nearer to him.

They had both risen at Lady Kirkbank’s approach, and were standing side by side, confronting her.  Lesbia had shrunk from the idea of poverty with John Hammond; yet, for this man’s sake, she was ready to face penury, ruin, disgrace, anything.

’Do you mean to tell me that Lord Maulevrier’s sister, a young lady under my charge, answerable to me for her conduct, is capable of jilting the man to whom she has solemnly bound herself, in order to marry you?’ demanded Lady Kirkbank, turning to Montesma.

‘Yes; that is what I am going to do,’ answered Lesbia, boldly.  ’It would be a greater sin to keep my promise than to break it.  I never liked that man, and you know it.  You badgered me into accepting him, against my own better judgment.  You drifted me so deeply into debt that I was willing to marry a man I loathed in order to get my debts paid. This is what you did for the girl placed under your charge.  But, thank God, I have released myself from your clutches.  I am going far away to a new world, where the memory of my old life cannot follow me.  People may be angry or pleased!  I do not care.  I shall be the wife of the man I have chosen out of all the world for my husband—­the man God made to be my master.’

‘You are——­’ gasped Lady Kirkbank.  ’I can’t say what you are.  I never in my life felt so tempted to use improper language.’

‘Dear Lady Kirkbank, be reasonable,’ pleaded Montesma; ’you can have no interest in seeing Lesbia married to a man she dislikes.’

Georgia reddened a little, remembering that she was interested to the amount of some thousands in the Smithson and Haselden alliance; but she took a higher ground than mercenary considerations.

’I am interested in doing the very best for a young lady who has been entrusted to my care, the granddaughter of an old friend,’ she answered, with dignity.  ’I have no objection to you in the abstract, Don Gomez.  You have always been vastly civil, I am sure——­’

’Stand by us in our day of need, Lady Kirkbank, and you will find me the staunchest friend you ever had.’

‘I am bound in honour to consider Mr. Smithson, Lesbia,’ said Lady Kirkbank.  ’I wonder that a decently-brought up girl can behave so abominably.’

’It would be more abominable to marry a man I detest.  I have made up my mind, Lady Kirkbank.  We shall be at Havre to-morrow morning, and we shall be married to-morrow—­shall we not, Gomez?’

She let her head sink upon his breast, and his arm enfold her.  Thus sheltered, she felt safe, thus and thus only.  She had thrown her cap over the mills; snapped her fingers at society; cared not a jot what the world might think or say of her.  This man would she marry and no other; this man’s fortune would she follow for good or evil.  He had that kind of influence with women which is almost ‘possession.’  It smells of brimstone.