said the doctor, slowly, "Mrs. Dallas, I love your daughter, and I wish to marry her. Miss Isabella, will you be my wife?"

Here Maurice set down his cup with a crash, and strode across the room, where he faced Etwald in no very pleasant frame of mind.

"I shall answer that question. Dr. Etwald," he said, loudly. "Miss Dallas shall not and can not marry you. She has promised to be my wife."

"Isabella!" said Mrs. Dallas, in an aggrieved tone. "Is this true?"

"Perfectly true," assented Isabella. "I love Maurice. I wish to marry him." And slipping her arm within that of her lover, she prepared to face the storm.

"You are a disobedient girl," cried Mrs. Dallas, making no attempt to control her temper. "You shall not marry without my permission. Mr. Alymer, I am astonished at you; I am disappointed in you. It is not the act of a gentleman to steal away the affections of my daughter without informing me of your intentions."

"I had my reasons for not doing so, Mrs. Dallas," replied Maurice, quickly. "But I was about to tell you of our engagement when Dr. Etwald forestalled me by making his unexpected offer."

"Unexpected, Mr. Alymer!" smiled Etwald. "After my statement last night?"

"Unexpected so far as time and place are concerned," said Maurice, firmly. "But as you have asked Miss Dallas to marry you, take her refusal from her own lips."

"Miss Dallas!" said Etwald, in no wise moved by this speech.

"Isabella!" cried her mother in an angry tone.

Isabella looked calmly at them both.

"I love Maurice. I intend to marry him," she repeated, and an obstinate expression came over her face.

"In that case," said Etwald, rising, "I must take my leave, and shall be content with that answer until such time as you are free; then," he added, coolly, "I shall ask you again."

"I shall never be free," said Isabella, proudly.

"Oh, yes, you will; when Mr. Alymer is dead."

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