heless, bold as she was and independent, he had
imbued her, as he did all those around him, with so strong a sense of
his personal dignity, that when she had finished she almost trembled
as she looked in his face. Since he had asked her how she could
justify to herself the threats which she was using he had sat still
with his eyes fixed upon her. Now, when she had done, he was in no
hurry to speak. He rose slowly and walking towards the fireplace
stood with his back towards her, looking down upon the fire. She was
the first to speak again. "Shall I leave you now?" she said in a low
voice.

"Perhaps it will be better," he answered. His voice, too, was very
low. In truth he was so moved that he hardly knew how to speak at
all. Then she rose and was already on her way to the door when he
followed her. "One moment, if you please," he said almost sternly.
"I am under a debt of gratitude to you of which I cannot express
my sense in words. How far I may agree with you, and where I may
disagree, I will not attempt to point out to you now."

"Oh no."

"But all that you have troubled yourself to think and to feel in this
matter, and all that true friendship has compelled you to say to me,
shall be written down in the tablets of my memory."

"Duke!"

"My child has at any rate been fortunate in securing the friendship
of such a friend." Then he turned back to the fireplace, and she was
constrained to leave the room without another word.

She had determined to make the best plea in her power for Mary; and
while she was making the plea had been almost surprised by her own
vehemence; but the greater had been her vehemence, the stronger, she
thought, would have been the Duke's anger. And as she had watched the
workings of his face she had felt for a moment that the vials of his
wrath were about to be poured out upon her. Even when she left the
room she almost believed that had he not taken those moments for
consideration at the fireplace his parting words would have been
different. But, as it was, there could be no question now of her
departure. No power was left to her of separating herself from
Lady Mary. Though the Duke had not as yet acknowledged himself to
be conquered, there was no doubt to her now but that he would be
conquered. And she, either here or in London, must be the girl's
nearest friend up to the day when she should be given over to Mr.
Tregear.

That was one of the three attacks which were made upon the Duke