No.

ELLEAN.

You are angry with him; so was I. But to-morrow when he calls and expresses his regret--to-morrow----

AUBREY.

Ellean--Ellean!

ELLEAN.

Yes, papa?

AUBREY.

I--I can't let you see this man again. [_He walks away from her in a paroxysm of distress, then, after a moment or two, he returns to her and takes her to his arms._] Ellean! my child!

ELLEAN.

[_Releasing herself._] What has happened, papa? What is it?

AUBREY.

[_Thinking out his words deliberately._] Something has occurred, something has come to my knowledge, in relation to Captain Ardale, which puts any further acquaintanceship between you two out of the question.

ELLEAN.

Any further acquaintanceship ... out of the question?

AUBREY.

Yes.

[_Advancing to her quickly, but she shrinks from him._

ELLEAN.

No, no--I am quite well. [_After a short pause._] It's not an hour ago since Mrs. Cortelyon left you and me together here; you had nothing to urge against Captain Ardale then.

AUBREY.

No.

ELLEAN.

You don't know each other; you haven't even seen him this evening.

Father!

AUBREY.

I have told you he and I have not met.

ELLEAN.

Mrs. Cortelyon couldn't have spoken against him to you just now. No, no, no; she's too good a friend to both of us. Aren't you going to give me some explanation? You can't take this position towards me--towards Captain Ardale--without affording me the fullest explanation.

AUBREY.

Ellean, there are circ.u.mstances connected with Captain Ardale's career which you had better remain ignorant of. It must be sufficient for you that I consider these circ.u.mstances render him unfit to be your husband.

ELLEAN.

Father!

AUBREY.

You must trust me, Ellean; you must try to understand the depth of my love for you and the--the agony it gives me to hurt you. You must trust me.

ELLEAN.

I will, father; but you must trust me a little too. Circ.u.mstances connected with Captain Ardale's career?

AUBREY.

Yes.

ELLEAN.

When he presents himself here to-morrow of course you will see him and let him defend himself?

AUBREY.

Captain Ardale will not be here to-morrow.

ELLEAN.

Not! You have stopped his coming here?

AUBREY.

Indirectly--yes.

ELLEAN.

But just now he was talking to me at that window! Nothing had taken place then! And since then nothing can have----! Oh! Why--you have heard something against him from Paula.

AUBREY.