nursery."

"I want some strawberries," the boy called out rebelliously.

"Not to-day," said his father. "You know quite well that you have behaved
badly."

His wife's face was painfully flushed. Mr. Carr was critically examining
the painted landscape on his plate; and the turban was enjoying some
fruit with perfect unconcern. Lord Hartledon stood an instant ere he
resumed his seat.

"Anne," he said in a voice that trembled in spite of its displeased
tones, "allow me to beg your pardon, and I do it with shame that this
gratuitous insult should have been offered you in your own house. A day
or two will, I hope, put matters on their right footing; the poor
children, as you see, have been tutored."

"Are you going to keep the port by you all night, Hartledon?"

Need you ask from whom came the interruption? Mr. Carr passed it across
to her, leaving her to help herself; and Lord Hartledon sat down, biting
his delicate lips.

When the dowager seemed to have finished, Anne rose. Mr. Carr rose too as
soon as they had retired.

"I have an engagement, Hartledon, and am obliged to run away. Make my
adieu to your wife."

"Carr, is it not a crying shame?--enough to incense any man?"

"It is. The sooner you get rid of her the better."

"That's easier said than done."

When Lord Hartledon reached the drawing-room, the dowager was sleeping
comfortably. Looking about for his wife, he found her in the small room
Maude used to make exclusively her own, which was not lighted up. She was
standing at the window, and her tears were quietly falling. He drew her
face to his own.

"My darling, don't let it grieve you! We shall soon right it all."

"Oh, Percival, if the mischief should have gone too far!--if they should
never look upon me except as a step-mother! You don't know how sick and
troubled this has made me feel! I wanted to go to them in the nursery
when I came up, and did not dare! Perhaps the nurse has also been
prejudiced against me!"

"Come up with me now, love," he whispered.

They went silently upstairs, and found the children were then in bed and
asleep. They were tired with sight-seeing, the nurse said apologetically,
curtseying to her new mistress.

The nurse withdrew, and they stood over the nursery fire, talking. Anne
could scarcely account for the extreme depression the event seemed to
have thrown upon her. Lord Hartledon quickly recovered his spirits,
vowing he should like to "serve out" the dowager.