of you all. You are doing the children a lasting injury, and you
are guilty of cruel insult to Lady Hartledon. This is the second scene I
have been a witness to, when the elder children were encouraged to behave
badly to the younger; the first was in the nursery this morning; and I
have been here only a few hours. And you, Lord Hartledon, their head and
father, responsible for your children's welfare, can tamely sit by, and
suffer it, and see your wife insulted! Is this what you married Anne
Ashton for?"

Lord Hartledon rose: a strange look of pain on his features. "You are
mistaken, Laura. I wish every respect to be shown to my wife; respect
from all. Anne knows it."

"Respect!" scornfully retorted Lady Laura. "When you do not give her
so much as a voice in her own house; when you allow her children to be
trampled on, and beaten--_beaten_, sir--and she dare not interfere!
I blush for you, and could never have believed you would so behave to
your wife. Who are you, madam," turning again, in her anger, on the
countess-dowager, "and who are you, Margaret, that you should dare to
encourage Edward and Maude in rebellion against their present mother?"

Taken by surprise, the dowager made no answer. Lady Margaret looked
defiance.

"You and Anne have invited me to your house on a lengthened visit, Lord
Hartledon," continued Laura; "but I promise you that if this is to
continue I will not remain in it; I will not witness insult to my early
friend; and I will not see children incited to evil passions. Undress
that child, sir," she sharply added, directing Val's attention to
Reginald, "and you will see bruises on his back and shoulder. I saw them
this morning, and asked the nurse what caused them and was told Lord
Elster kicked him."

"It was the little beggar's own fault," interposed Edward, who was
standing his ground with equanimity, and seemed to enjoy the scene.

Lady Laura caught him sharply by the arm. "Of whom are you speaking!
Who's a little beggar?"

"Regy is."

"Who taught you to call him one?"

"Grand'ma."

"There, go away; go away all of you," cried Lady Laura, turning the two
elder ones from the room imperatively, after Anne and her children. "Oh,
so you are going also, Val! No wonder you are ashamed to stay here."

He was crossing the room; a curious expression on his drawn lips. Laura
watched him from it; then went and stood before the dowager; her back to
her sister.

"Has it ever struck you, Lady