" she said; "that must be my protection." So she followed Miss
Van Siever downstairs, leaving Mr. Dalrymple in possession of her
boudoir. "I shall give you just one hour," she said, "and then I
shall come and turn you out." So she went down, and, as Miss Van
Siever would not stay to lunch with her, she ate her lunch by
herself, sending a glass of sherry and a biscuit up to the poor
painter at his work.

Exactly at the end of the hour she returned to him. "Now, Conway, you
must go," she said.

"But why in such a hurry?"

"Because I say that it must be so. When I say so, pray let that be
sufficient." But still Dalrymple went on working. "Conway," she said,
"how can you treat me with so much disdain?"

"Disdain, Mrs. Broughton!"

"Yes, disdain. Have I not begged you to understand that I cannot
allow you to remain here, and yet you pay no attention to my wishes."

"I have done now;" and he began to put his brushes and paints
together. "I suppose all these things may remain here?"

"Yes; they may remain. They must do so, of course. There; if you will
put the easel in the corner, with the canvas behind it, they will not
be seen if he should chance to come into the room."

"He would not be angry, I suppose, if he saw them?"

"There is no knowing. Men are so unreasonable. All men are, I think.
All those are whom I have had the fortune to know. Women generally
say that men are selfish. I do not complain so much that they are
selfish as that they are thoughtless. They are headstrong and do not
look forward to results. Now you,--I do not think you would willingly
do me an injury?"

"I do not think I would."

"I am sure you would not;--but yet you would forget to save me from
one."

"What injury?"

"Oh, never mind. I am not thinking of anything in particular. From
myself, for instance. But we will not talk about that. That way
madness lies. Tell me, Conway;--what do you think of Clara Van
Siever?"

"She is very handsome, certainly."

"And clever?"

"Decidedly clever. I should think she has a temper of her own."

"What woman is there worth a straw that has not? If Clara Van Siever
were ill-used, she would resent it. I do not doubt that for a moment.
I should not like to be the man who would do it."

"Nor I, either," said Conway.

"But there is plenty of feminine softness in that character, if she
were treated with love and kindness. Conway, if you will take my
advice you will ask Clara Van Siever to be you