Kirton, that you may one day have to
account for this?"

"It strikes me that you are making a vast deal of unnecessary noise,
Madame Laura!"

"If your daughter could look on, from the other world, at earth and
its scenes--and some hold a theory that such a state of things is not
impossible--what would be her anguish, think you, at the evil you are
inculcating in her children? One of them will very soon be with her--"

The dowager interrupted with a sort of howl.

"He will; there is no mistaking it. You who see him constantly may not
detect it; but it is evident to a stranger. Were it not beneath me, I
might ask on what grounds you tutor him to call Reginald a beggar,
considering that your daughter brought my brother nothing but a few
debts; whilst Miss Ashton brought him a large fortune?"

"I wouldn't condescend to be mean, Laura," put in Lady Margaret, whilst
the dowager fanned her hot face.

They were interrupted by Hedges, showing in visitors. How much more Lady
Laura might have said must remain unknown: she was in a mood to say a
great deal.

"Mr. and Mrs. Graves."

It was the curate; and the tall, meek woman spoken of by Anne. Laura
laughed as she shook hands with the former; whom she had known when a
girl, and been given to ridiculing more than was quite polite.

Lord Hartledon had left the room after his wife. She sent the children
to the nursery; and he found her alone in her chamber sobbing bitterly.

Certainly he was a contradiction. He fondly took her in his arms,
beseeching her to pardon him, if he had unwittingly slighted her, as
Laura implied; and his blue eyes were beaming with affection, his voice
was low with persuasive tenderness.

"There are times," she sobbed, "when I am tempted to wish myself back in
my father's house!"

"I cannot think whence all this discomfort arises!" he weakly exclaimed.
"Of one thing, Anne, rest assured: as soon as Edward changes for the
better or the worse--and one it must inevitably be--that mischief-making
old woman shall quit my house for ever."

"Edward will never change for the better," she said. "For the worse, he
may soon: for the better, never."

"I know: Hillary has told me. Bear with things a little longer, and
believe that I will remedy them the moment remedy is possible. I am your
husband."

Lady Hartledon lifted her eyes to his. "We cannot go on as we are going
on now. Tell me what it is you have to bear. You remind me that you are
my husband