f　life　for　the　last　few　years；　Ruth。〃

〃It　has　not　been　very　…　agreeable；〃　agreed　Mrs　Kettering。

〃That's　why　I　say　to　you　that　this　thing　has　got　to　stop！〃　He　brought　his　hand　down　with　a　bang　on　the　table。　〃You　may　have　a　hankering　after　the　fellow　still。　Cut　it　out。　Face　facts。　Derek　Kettering　married　you　for　your　money。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。　Get　rid　of　him；　Ruth。〃

Ruth　Kettering　looked　down　at　the　ground　for　some　moments；　then　she　said；　without　raising　her　head：

〃Supposing　he　doesn't　consent？〃

Van　Aldin　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。

〃He　won't　have　a　say　in　the　matter。〃

She　flushed　and　bit　her　lip。

〃No　…　no　…　of　course　not。　I　only　meant　…〃

She　stopped。　Her　father　eyed　her　keenly。

〃What　did　you　mean？〃

〃I　meant　…〃　She　paused；　choosing　her　words　carefully。　〃He　mayn't　take　it　lying　down。〃

The　millionaire's　chin　shot　out　grimly。

〃You　mean　he'll　fight　the　case？　Let　him！　But；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　you're　wrong。　He　won't　fight。　Any　solicitor　he　consults　will　tell　him　he　hasn't　a　leg　to　stand　upon。〃

〃You　don't　think　…〃　she　hesitated　…　〃I　mean　…　out　of　sheer　spite　against　me　…　he　might　try　to　make　it　awkward？〃

Her　father　looked　at　her　in　some　astonishment。

〃Fight　the　case；　you　mean？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Very　unlikely。　You　see；　he　would　have　to　have　something　to　go　upon。〃

Mrs　Kettering　did　not　answer。　Van　Aldin　looked　at　her　sharply。

〃e；　Ruth；　out　with　it。　There's　something　troubling　you　…　what　is　it？〃

〃Nothing；　nothing　at　all。〃

But　her　voice　was　unconvincing。

〃You　are　dreading　the　publicity；　eh？　Is　that　it？　You　leave　it　to　me。　I'll　put　the　whole　thing　through　so　smoothly　that　there　will　be　no　fuss　at　all。〃

〃V