final answer on Saturday.

On the Friday morning, therefore, he knocked at the Mackenzies'
house door in Cavendish Square, and soon found himself alone with
Mrs Mackenzie. I do not know that even then he had come to any
fixed purpose. What he would himself have preferred would have been
permission to postpone any action as regards his cousin for another
six months, and to have been empowered to use that time in crushing
Mr Maguire out of existence. But this might not be so, and therefore
he went to Cavendish Square that he might there decide his fate.

"You want to see Margaret, no doubt," said Mrs Mackenzie, "that you
may tell her that her ruin is finally completed;" and as she thus
spoke of her cousin's ruin, she smiled her sweetest smile and put on
her pleasantest look.

"Yes, I do want to see her presently," he said.

Mrs Mackenzie had stood up as though she were about to go in quest
of her cousin, but had sat down again when the word presently
was spoken. She was by no means averse to having a few words of
conversation about Margaret, if Sir John should wish it. Sir John, I
fear, had merely used the word through some instinctive idea that he
might thereby stave off the difficulty for a while.

"Don't you think she looked very well at the Bazaar?" said Mrs
Mackenzie.

"Very well, indeed," he answered; "very well. I can't say I liked the
place."

"Nor any of us, I can assure you. Only one must do that sort of thing
sometimes, you know. Margaret was very much admired there. So much
has been said of this singular story about her fortune, that people
have, of course, talked more of her than they would otherwise have
done."

"That has been a great misfortune," said Sir John, frowning.

"It has been a misfortune, but it has been one of those things that
can't be helped. I don't think you have any cause to complain, for
Margaret has behaved as no other woman ever did behave, I think. Her
conduct has been perfect."

"I don't complain of her."

"As for the rest, you must settle that with the world yourself. I
don't care for any one beyond her. But, for my part, I think it is
the best to let those things die away of themselves. After all, what
does it matter as long as one does nothing to be ashamed of oneself?
People can't break any bones by their talking."

"Wouldn't you think it very unpleasant, Mrs Mackenzie, to have your
name brought up in the newspapers?"

"Upon my word I don't think I should care abo