At this point John Heron's ring and knock were heard at the door; with

a cry of terror, the unfortunate mother succeeded in dragging the

feebly struggling Joseph out of the room, and with Isabel's assistance,

hustled and pushed him up the stairs before his father was let in.

After a time Mrs. Heron came down again, and Ida heard her and her

husband talking together--you couldn't whisper in one room of Laburnum

Villa without being heard in another one--and presently the

drawing-room door opened and John Heron entered; Ida had waited, for

she had expected him. He was red and swollen with pomposity and

resentment, though he assumed a "more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger" air, and

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threw a deeply grieved tone into his harsh, raucous voice.

"I am deeply grieved and shocked, Ida," he began, "to hear from your

cousin so deplorable an account of your conduct. I am not so unwise as

to look for gratitude in this world, but I did not think you would

repay our kindness and consideration by attempting to wreck the

happiness of a quiet and godly home. Of course, I make all allowances

for your bringing-up; I am aware that in the state of life from which

we rescued you, the spiritual and the religious were entirely absent;

but I had hopes that our precept and, I may say, example, the influence

of a deeply religious family--" by this time his voice had slid into

the nasal whine and growl which it assumed in the pulpit; and Ida,

notwithstanding her wretchedness, again felt an almost irresistible

desire to laugh.

"Please tell me, Cousin John, what it is I have done, what it is you

complain of?" she broke in.

Angered by the interruption, for there is nothing a man like John Heron

hates worse, he snapped out: "You have been trying to snare the affections of my son; you have even

cast lascivious eyes at the stranger within our gates."

The blood rushed to Ida's face; then she laughed outright, the laugh of

desperation; for indeed, she despaired of convincing these stupid

people of her innocence. The laugh naturally exasperated John Heron,

and his gaunt face grew pallid for an instant.

"I understand!" he said. "You treat our remonstrances with scorn, you

scoff at our rebuke."

"Yes; I am afraid I can't help it, Cousin John," said Ida. "I am sorry

that you should think me so wicked and so--dangerous, and I quite agree

with Isabel and her mother that if I am as bad as you say, I am not fit

to live in a respectable house and with--decent people. It would be

useless for me to assure you that you are all ridiculously mistaken."




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