scorns me!" she said, her brow drooping.

Ashe exclaimed.

"You know it's true. My mother is not received. Can you deny that?"

"She has many friends," said Ashe.

"She is <i>not received</i>. When I speak of her no one answers me. Lady
Grosville asked me here--<i>me</i>--out of charity. It would be thought a
disgrace to marry me--"

"Look here, Lady Kitty!--"

"And I"--she wrung her small hands, as though she clasped the necks of
her enemies--"I would never <i>look</i> at a man who did not think it the
glory of his life to win me. So you see, I shall never marry. But then
the dreadful thing is--"

She let him see a white, stormy face.

"That I have no loyalty to maman--I--I don't think I even love her."

Ashe surveyed her gravely.

"You don't mean that," he said.

"I think I do," she persisted. "I had a horrid childhood. I won't tell
tales; but, you see, I don't <i>know</i> maman. I know the Soeurs much
better. And then for some one you don't know--to have to--to have to
bear--this horrible thing--"

She buried her face in her hands. Ashe looked at her in perplexity.

"You sha'n't bear anything horrible," he said, with energy. "There are
plenty of people who will take care of that. Do you mind telling
me--have there been special difficulties just lately?"

"Oh yes," she said, calmly, looking up, "awful! Maman's debts
are--well--ridiculous. For that alone I don't think she'll be able to
stay in London--apart from--Alice."

The name recalled all she had just passed through, and her face
quivered. "What will she do?" she said, under her breath. "How will she
punish us?--and why?--for what?"

Her dread, her ignorance, her fierce, bruised vanity, her struggling
pride, her helplessness, appealed amazingly to the man beside her. He
began to talk to her very gently and wisely, begging her to let the past
alone, to think only what could be done to help the present. In the
first place, would she not let his mother be of use to her?

He could answer for Lady Tranmore. Why shouldn't Lady Kitty spend the
summer with her in Scotland? No doubt Madame d'Estrees would be abroad.

"Then I must go with her," said Kitty.

Ashe hesitated.

"Of course, if she wishes it."

"But I don't know that she will wish it. She is not very fond of me,"
said Kitty, doubtfully. "Yes, I would like to stay with Lady Tranmore.
But will your cousin be there?"

"Miss Lyster?"

Kitty nodded.

"How can I tell? Of course, she is o