rgive myself if I
neglected any precaution, and I shall take your advice. I shall consult
Mrs. Brown-Smith.'

Merton thus retreated from what even he regarded as a difficult and
delicate affair. He fell back on his reserves; and Mrs. Brown-Smith
later gave an account of what passed between herself and the
representative of an earlier age:

'She first, when she had invited me to her dreary place, explained that
we ought not, she feared, to lead others into temptation. "If you think
that man, de la Lain's temptation is to drag my father's name, and my
husband's, in the dust," I answered, "let me tell you that _I_ have a
temptation also."

'"Dear Mrs. Brown-Smith," she answered, "this is indeed honourable
candour. Not for the world would I be the occasion--"

'I interrupted her, "_My_ temptation is to make him the laughing stock of
his acquaintance, and, if he has the impudence to give me the
opportunity, I _will_!" And then I told her, without names, of course,
that story about this Vidame Potter and Violet Lebas.'

'I did _not_,' said Merton. 'But why Vidame Potter?'

'His father was a Mr. Potter; his grandfather married a Miss Lalain--I
know all about it--and this creature has wormed out, or invented, some
story of a Vidameship, or whatever it is, hereditary in the female line,
and has taken the title. And this is the man who has had the
impertinence to talk about _me_, a Ker of Graden.'

'But did not the story you speak of make her see that she must break off
her daughter's engagement?'

'No. She was very much distressed, but said that her daughter Matilda
would never believe it.'

'And so you are to go to Upwold?'

'Yes, it is a mournful place; I never did anything so good-natured. And,
with the widow's knowledge, I am to do as I please till the girl's eyes
are opened. I think it will need that stratagem we spoke of to open
them.'

'You are sure that you will be in no danger from evil tongues?'

'They say, What say they? Let them say,' answered Mrs. Brown-Smith,
quoting the motto of the Keiths.

The end of July found Mrs. Brown-Smith at Upwold, where it is to be hoped
that the bracing qualities of the atmosphere made up for the want of
congenial society. Susan Malory had been discreetly sent away on a
visit. None of the men of the family had arrived. There was a party of
local neighbours, who did not feel the want of anything to do, but lived
in dread of flushing the Vidame and Matilda o