xes
to dine and spend the evening together. This was the night for The
Paddock, and Mrs Macintyre would therefore see not only the Honourable
George Lennox, but a goodly number of her future pupils. Miss Delacour
was a woman who in the moment of victory was not inclined to show off.
Having gained Mrs Constable, she was merciful to George, and said
nothing whatever to him with regard to the school, or with regard to
the advent of Mrs Macintyre. She knew well that that really good woman
would be at The Paddock that evening, and considered her task
practically accomplished.

George Lennox, feeling sad at heart, but still trusting to the
incapability of Mrs Macintyre to undertake so onerous a charge, went
with his sister-in-law to meet Mrs Constable at the appointed hour at
Ardshiel that afternoon. When they joined Mrs Constable at the lodge
gate, he did not hear the one lady say to the other, 'The dear thing
will be with me in time for dinner.'

'We dine at The Paddock to-night,' whispered Miss Delacour. 'How
marvellous are the ways of Providence! I can get back to London
to-morrow. Between ourselves, dear, I hate the Upper Glen, and
heartily dislike my brother-in-law.'

'Oh! you must not speak of my brother like that,' said Mrs Constable.
'With the exception of my dear husband, there never was a man like my
brother George.'

'As you think so much of him, perhaps he will help you by finding
husband No. 2,' said Miss Delacour in a tone which she meant to be
playful. She chuckled over her commonplace joke, having never
succeeded herself in finding even No. 1. But Mrs Constable's gentle
and beautiful gray eyes now flashed with a sudden fire, and the colour
of amazed anger rose into her cheeks.

'Miss Delacour, you astonish and pain me indescribably when you speak
as you have just done. Little you know of my beloved Wallace. Had you
had the good fortune to meet so noble a man, you would perceive how
impossible it is for his widow, indeed his _wife_, as I consider
myself, to marry any one else. Never speak to me on that subject
again, please, Miss Delacour.'

Miss Delacour saw that she had gone too far, and muttered to herself,
'Dear, dear, how _huffy_ these handsome widows are! But, all the same,
I doubt not that she _will_ marry again. Time will prove. For me, I
have no patience with these silly airs. But I see I must change the
subject.' Accordingly she deftly did so, and even asked to see a
portrai