, in the somewhat hard integrity of his
character, he did not for a moment seek to persuade himself, as a
man of greater sympathy might have done, that Eve was a person to
whom the truth could legitimately be spared.

How she would suffer it, and whither her indignation might lead her,
he did not care to inquire; these were matters with which henceforth
he should decline to meddle. His part would be done when he had
given her the simple information that was her due--that they had
made a great mistake; that her husband was not to be trusted.

He tried to prepare the few set phrases in which the intelligence
would be couched, but found none that were satisfactory. The effort
appeared more and more stupendous as the afternoon advanced, until
at last, with astonishment at his weakness which refused to be
analysed, he recognised that, after all, it was not possible. It was
news which he could not give to his sister with his own lips.

Mary Masters as a possible mediator suddenly occurred to him. He
recognised by some occult instinct that she was one of the persons
for whom Oswyn had stipulated, to whom restitution was due, and at
once he resolved to appeal to her.

He reminded himself that the Lightmarks were entertaining that
evening on a scale of quite exceptional grandeur, that he had a card
for their fancy-dress ball, from which Lady Garnett and her niece
would hardly be absentees. If he could see the girl beforehand, she
would doubtless find the time and occasion to say what was
necessary.

He had recovered his composure when, at no considerable interval
after the formation of this resolve, he was ushered into Lady
Garnett's drawing-room. It was his first appearance there since the
rejection of his suit (he had not had the courage to renew it,
although he was by no means prepared to admit that it was hopeless),
and in the slight embarrassment which this recollection caused him
he hardly regretted the presence of a second visitor, although his
identification as a certain Lord Overstock, whom he believed to be
opposed to him in more ways than in his political views (he was a
notorious Tory), was not made without a jealous pang. He greeted
Mary, however, without undue formality, and went over to Lady
Garnett.

The old lady glanced up at him rather listlessly. She was growing
deaf, or feigned deafness. He said to himself that perhaps she was
much older than they knew--was growing tired. Her _persiflage_, which
Char