could only foresee the ending of some of the unholy schemes that many
of us are apt to weave, we might be more willing to leave them humbly in
a higher Hand than ours. Do they ever bring forth good, these plans, born
of our evil passions--hatred, malice, utter selfishness? I think not.
They may seem to succeed triumphantly, but--watch the triumph to the end.

CHAPTER XIII.

FEVER.

The dews of an October evening were falling upon Calne, as Lord Hartledon
walked from the railway-station. Just as unexpectedly as he had arrived
the morning you first saw him, when he was only Val Elster, had he
arrived now. By the merest accident one of the Hartledon servants
happened to be at the station when the train arrived, and took charge of
his master's luggage.

"All well at home, James?"

"All quite well, my lord."

Several weeks had elapsed since his brother's death, and Lord Hartledon
had spent them in London. He went up on business the week after the
funeral, and did not return again. In one respect he had no inducement to
return; for the Ashtons, including Anne, were on a visit in Wales. They
were at home now, as he knew well; and perhaps that had brought him down.

He went in unannounced, finding his way to the inner drawing-room. A
large fire blazed in the grate, and Lady Maude sat by it so intent in
thought as not to observe his entrance. She wore a black crepe dress,
with a little white trimming on its low body and sleeves. The firelight
played on her beautiful features; and her eyelashes glistened as if with
tears: she was thinner and paler; he saw it at once. The countess-dowager
kept to Hartledon and showed no intention of moving from it: she and her
daughter had been there alone all these weeks.

"How are you, Maude?"

She looked round and started up, backing from him with a face of alarm.
Ah, was it _instinct_ caused her so to receive him? What, or who, was she
thinking of; holding her hands before her with that face of horror?

"Maude, have I so startled you?"

"Percival! I beg your pardon. I believe I was thinking of--of your
brother, and I really did not know you in the uncertain light. We don't
have the rooms lighted early," she added, with a little laugh.

He took her hands in his. Now that she knew him, and the alarm was over,
she seemed really pleased to see him: the dark eyes were raised to his
with a frank smile.

"May I take a cousin's greeting, Maude?"

Without waiting for yes or no