ever. It was not intended that she should.'

'That sounds well. Lord Mountclere, we may as well compromise matters.'

'I think so too. It becomes a lady to make a virtue of a necessity.'

'It was stratagem against stratagem. Mine was ingenious; yours was
masterly! Accept my acknowledgment. We will enter upon an armed
neutrality.'

'No. Let me be your adorer and slave again, as ever. Your beauty,
dearest, covers everything! You are my mistress and queen! But here we
are at the door. Tea is prepared for us here. I have a liking for life
in this cottage mode, and live here on occasion. Women, attend to Lady
Mountclere.'

The woman who had seen Ethelberta in the morning was alarmed at
recognizing her, having since been informed officially of the marriage:
she murmured entreaties for pardon. They assisted the viscountess to a
chair, the door was closed, and the wind blew past as if nobody had ever
stood there to interrupt its flight.

* * * * *

Full of misgivings, Christopher continued to wait at the north gate. Half-
past seven had long since been past, and no Ethelberta had appeared. He
did not for the moment suppose the delay to be hers, and this gave him
patience; having taken up the position, he was induced by fidelity to
abide by the consequences. It would be only a journey of two hours to
reach Anglebury Station; he would ride outside with the driver, put her
into the train, and bid her adieu for ever. She had cried for help, and
he had heard her cry.

At last through the trees came the sound of the Court clock striking
eight, and then, for the first time, a doubt arose in his mind whether
she could have mistaken the gate. She had distinctly told Sol the west
lodge; her note had expressed the north lodge. Could she by any accident
have written one thing while meaning another? He entered the carriage,
and drove round to the west gate. All was as silent there as at the
other, the meeting between Ethelberta and Lord Mountclere being then long
past; and he drove back again.

He left the carriage, and entered the park on foot, approaching the house
slowly. All was silent; the windows were dark; moping sounds came from
the trees and sky, as from Sorrow whispering to Night. By this time he
felt assured that the scheme had miscarried. While he stood here a
carriage without lights came up the drive; it turned in towards the
stable-yard without going to the door. The carriage had plainly bee