"We do--very nearly. Mr. Hillary comes, and Dr. Beamish from Garchester,
and one or two people have been here on business. If any one calls at the
gate, they are not asked in; and I don't suppose they would come in if
asked. Jabez Gum's the most obstinate. He comes in just as usual."

"Lady Kirton is in an awful fright," said Val, in an amused tone.

"Oh, I have heard of it," cried Anne, clasping her hands in laughter.
"She is burning tar outside the house; and she spoke to Mr. Hillary this
morning through the window muffled up in a cloak and respirator. What a
strange old thing she is!"

Val shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think she means badly _au fond_; and
she has no home, poor creature."

"Is that why she remains at Hartledon?"

"I suppose so. Reigning at Hartledon must be something like a glimpse of
Paradise to her. She won't quit it in a hurry."

"I wonder you like to have her there."

"I know I shall never have courage to tell her to go," was the candid and
characteristic answer. "I was afraid of her as a boy, and I'm not sure
but I'm afraid of her still."

"I don't like her--I don't like either of them," said Anne in a low tone.

"Don't you like Maude?"

"No. I am sure she is not true. To my mind there is something very false
about them both."

"I think you are wrong, Anne; certainly as regards Maude."

Miss Ashton did not press her opinion: they were his relatives. "But I
should have pitied poor Edward had he lived and married her," she said,
following out her thoughts.

"I was mistaken when I thought Maude cared for Edward," observed Lord
Hartledon. "I'm sure I did think it. I used to tell Edward so; but a day
or two after he died I found I was wrong. The dowager had been urging
Maude to like him, and she could not, and it made her miserable."

"Did Maude tell you this?" inquired Anne; her radiant eyes full of
surprise.

"Not Maude: she never said a word to me upon the subject. It was the
dowager."

"Then, Val, she must have said it with an object in view. I am sure Maude
did love him. I know she did."

He shook his head. "You are wrong, Anne, depend upon it. She did not like
him, and she and her mother were at variance upon the point. However, it
is of no moment to discuss it now: and it might never have come to an
issue had Edward lived, for he did not care for her; and I dare say never
would have cared for her."

Anne said no more. It was of no moment as he observed; but she retain