et,
or ever will be again," he replied, speaking too plainly in his warmth.

"What a false-hearted monster!" cried the dowager, shrilly,
apostrophizing the walls and the mirrors. "What then was Maude?"

"Maude is gone, and I counsel you not to bring up her name to me," said
Val, sternly. "Your treachery forced Maude upon me; and let me tell you
now, Lady Kirton, if I have never told you before, that it wrought upon
her the most bitter wrong possible to be inflicted; which she lived to
learn. I was a vacillating simpleton, and you held me in your trammels.
The less we rake up old matters the better. Things have altered. I am
altered. The moral courage I once lacked does not fail me now; and I have
at least sufficient to hold my own against the world, and protect from
insult the lady I have made my wife. I beg your pardon if my words seem
harsh; they are true; and I am sorry you have forced them from me."

She was standing still for a moment, staring at him, not altogether
certain of her ground.

"Where are the children?" he asked.

"Where you can't get at them," she rejoined hotly. "You have your beloved
wife; you don't want them."

He rang the bell, more loudly than he need have done; but his usually
sweet temper was provoked. A footman came in.

"Tell the nurse to bring down the children."

"They are not at home, my lord."

"Not at home! Surely they are not out in this rain!--and so late!"

"They went out this afternoon, my lord: and have not come in, I believe."

"There, that will do," tartly interposed the dowager. "You don't know
anything about it, and you may go."

"Lady Kirton, where are the children?"

"Where you can't get at them, I say," was Lady Kirton's response. "You
don't think I am going to suffer Maude's children to be domineered over
by a wretch of a step-mother--perhaps poisoned."

He confronted her in his wrath, his eyes flashing.

"Madam!"

"Oh, you need not 'Madam' me. Maude's gone, and I shall act for her."

"I ask you where my children are?"

"I have sent them away; you may make the most of the information. And
when I have remained here as long as I choose, I shall take them with me,
and keep them, and bring them up. You can at once decide what sum you
will allow me for their education and maintenance: two maids, a tutor,
a governess, clothes, toys, and pocket-money. It must be a handsome sum,
paid quarterly in advance. And I mean to take a house in London for their
accommodat