ould have done it, and carried my case,
too! I'm not sure it would not have been better for me. But he gave in,
and asked me to stay. I felt pretty safe then. Now, when he is
disagreeable, I burst into tears at dinner, and upset my glass of claret
on the table-cloth, and totter out of the room weak and tremulous. I can
see the butler and James ready to tear him to pieces. When he is
good-humored, so am I; and when he tries to bully, why, what with
trembling so much that I break something he likes, and fits of
hysterics, and being awfully frightened before strangers, and making
things go wrong when he wishes to create a great effect on some one, I
think he begins to see it is better not to quarrel with me. Still, it is
awfully miserable, compared with what it used to be when I really
thought he loved me. How pleasant we all were together at Castleford
before this horrid man turned up! Why didn't that awkward bush-ranger
take better aim?"

"I dare say George Liddell is not quite of your opinion," said
Katherine, smiling at her sister-in-law's candor.

"He was quite rich before," continued Mrs. Ormonde, querulously. "Why
couldn't he be satisfied to stay out there and spend his own money? I
hate selfishness and greed!"

"They _are_ odious in every one," said Katherine, gravely.

"Now that I feel satisfied you are well and happy," resumed Mrs.
Ormonde, who had never put a single question respecting herself to
Katherine, "there are one or two things I wanted to ask you. Where are
the boys?"

"They are still at Sandbourne; but they leave, I am sorry to say, at
Easter."

"Oh, they do! It is an awfully expensive school. Are you quite sure,
Katherine, they will not send in the bill to me?"

"Quite sure, Ada, for I have paid in advance."

"That was really very thoughtful, dear. Then--excuse my asking; I would
not interfere with you for the world--but what _are_ you going to do
with them in the Easter holidays? I _dare_ not have them at Castleford.
I should lose all the ground I have gained if such a thing was even
hinted to the Colonel."

"Why apologize for inquiring about your own children? Do not be alarmed,
they shall _not_ go. I am just now arranging for them to go to a school
at Wandsworth, and for the Easter holidays Miss Payne has most kindly
invited them."

"Really! How very nice! I will send her a hamper from Castleford. I can
manage that much. This is rather a nice little place," continued Mrs.
Ormonde, evi