the Rectory, with their fine visions for Anne--"

"I wish you would understand once for all, Lady Kirton, that the Ashtons
are our equals in every way," he interrupted: "and," he added, "in worth
and goodness infinitely our superiors."

The dowager gave a sniff. "You think so, I know, Hart. Well, the only
plan to bring you peace is this: make Maude your wife. At once; without
delay."

The proposition took away Val's breath. "I could not do it, Lady Kirton.
To begin with, they'd bring an action against me for breach of promise."

"Breach of nonsense!" wrathfully returned the dowager. "Was ever such
a thing heard of yet, as a doctor of divinity bringing an action of that
nature? He'd lose his gown."

"I wish I was at the bottom of a deep well, never to come up again!"
mentally aspirated the unfortunate man.

"Will--you--marry--Maude?" demanded the dowager, with a fixed
denunciation in every word, which was as so much slow torture to her
victim.

"I wish I could. You must see for yourself, Lady Kirton, that I cannot.
Maude must see it."

"I see nothing of the sort. You are bound to her in honour."

"All I can do is to remain single to the end of my days," said Val, after
a pause. "I have been a great villain to both, and I cannot repair it to
either. The one stands in the way of the other."

"But--"

"I beg your pardon, ma'am," he interrupted, so peremptorily that the old
woman trembled for her power. "This is my final decision, and I will not
hear another word. I feel ready to hang myself, as it is. You tell me I
cannot marry any other than Maude without being a scoundrel; the same
thing precisely applies to Anne. I shall remain single."

"You will give me one promise--for Maude's sake. Not, after this, to
marry Anne Ashton."

"Why, how can I do it?" asked he, in tones of exasperation. "Don't you
see that it is impossible? I shall not see the Ashtons again, ma'am; I
would rather go a hundred miles the other way than face them."

The countess-dowager probably deemed she had said sufficient for safety;
for she went out and shut the door after her. Lord Hartledon dashed his
hair from his brow with a hasty hand, and was about to leave the room by
the other door, when Maude came up to him.

"Is this to be the end of it, Percival?"

She spoke in tones of pain, of tremulous tenderness; all her pride gone
out of her. Lord Hartledon laid his hand upon her shoulder, meeting the
dark eyes that were raised to his