d come in
a carriage of which the blinds were drawn, wished to see her. When she
went down to the parlour, she saw a spare old man, with a face much
lined and wrinkled, who was clad in ill-fitting, old-fashioned clothes,
fidgeting about the room.

"You wish to see me?" asked Mavis, as she wondered who he could be.

"Yes. My name's Perigal: Major Perigal."

Mavis did not speak.

The man seemed surprised at her silence.

"I--I knew your father," he remarked.

"I knew your son," said Mavis icily.

"More's the pity!"

Mavis looked up, mildly surprised. The man continued:

"He's mean: mean right through. I've nothing good to say of him. I know
him too well."

Mavis kept silent. Major Perigal went on:

"A nice mess you've made of it."

The girl's eyes held the ghost of a smile. He continued:

"I did my best for you, but you thought yourself too clever."

Mavis looked up inquiringly.

"When I heard who it was he was going to marry, I wanted to do you a
good turn for your father's sake, as I knew Charles could never make
you happy. I forbade the marriage, knowing he wouldn't face poverty for
you. He's hateful: hateful right through."

"And if we'd married?"

"I'd have come round, especially after seeing you. You're a
daughter-in-law any man would be proud of. And now he's married that
Devitt girl for her money."

"For her money?" queried Mavis.

"What little she has. Never mind her: I want to speak of you. For all
your fine looks, you were too clever by half."

"What do you mean?" she asked, with dull, even voice.

"What I say. That for all your grand appearance you were much too
knowing. Since you couldn't get him one way, you thought you'd have him
another."

"You mean---"

"By doing as you did."

"You insult me!" cried Mavis, now roused from her lethargy.

"Eh?"

"Insult me. And that is why you came. But since you're here, you may as
well know I made a mess of it, as you call it, because I loved your
son. If I'd the time over again, I suppose I'd be just such another
fool. I can't help it. I loved him. I wish you good morning."

Major Pengal had never been so taken aback in his life. Mavis's words
and manner carried conviction to his heart.

"I didn't know--I beg your pardon--I take hack my words," he said
confusedly.

Mavis relapsed into her previous torpor.

"I didn't know there was such a woman in the world," he continued.
"What you must have been through!"

Mavis did not speak.