“I was glad to get even this, for I have no pride now,” she returned, coldly.  “At least the house is honest, and the men who come here are the same.  Mr. O’Neil is especially kind to Natalie, and she thinks a great deal of him.”

“I presume he wants to marry her.”

“I pray that he will.  I don’t intend her to make the mistake I did.”

Gordon received this announcement with grim satisfaction.  It was what he had suspected, and it fitted perfectly into his plans.

“I sha’n’t allow this to continue, Gloria,” he said.  “Our difference has gone far enough, and I sha’n’t permit O’Neil to put me in his debt.  We have come to a final understanding, he and I. While my views on the holiness of the marriage relation have not changed in the least, still I am ready to follow your wishes.”

“You—­mean it?” she queried, breathlessly.

“I do.  Come home, Gloria.”

“Wait!  I must tell Natalie.”  She rose unsteadily and left the room, while he reflected with mingled scorn and amusement upon the weakness of human nature and the gullibility of women.

A moment later mother and daughter appeared, arm in arm, both very pale.

“Is this true?” Natalie demanded.

“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.”

“So!  You have your own plans, no doubt, and it doesn’t trouble you that you are standing in the way of your mother’s respectability!” His voice was harsh, his sneer open.  “Bless my soul!  Is the generosity to be all on my side?  Or has this man O’Neil forbidden you to associate with me?”

“I don’t trust you.”  Natalie flared up.  “I’m afraid you are trying—­”

“It is my condition, and I am adamant.  Believe me, O’Neil knows of your disgrace, or will learn of it in time.  It would be well to protect your name while you can.”  Turning to the other woman, he said loudly:  “Gloria, the girl is ready to sacrifice you to her own ends.”