ster.

"Sir Patrick Lundie."

Geoffrey heard the answer. "What about Sir Patrick Lundie?" he asked.

"I wish to see Sir Patrick Lundie," said his mother. "And your wife can
tell me where to find him."

Anne instantly understood that Lady Holchester would communicate with
Sir Patrick. She mentioned his London address. Lady Holchester turned to
leave the cottage. Her son stopped her.

"Let's set things straight," he said, "before you go. My mother," he
went on, addressing himself to Anne, "don't think there's much
chance for us two of living comfortably together. Bear witness to the
truth--will you? What did I tell you at breakfast-time? Didn't I say it
should be my endeavor to make you a good husband? Didn't I say--in Mrs.
Dethridge's presence--I wanted to make it up?" He waited until Anne had
answered in the affirmative, and then appealed to his mother. "Well?
what do you think now?"

Lady Holchester declined to reveal what she thought. "You shall see me,
or hear from me, this evening," she said to Anne. Geoffrey attempted
to repeat his unanswered question. His mother looked at him. His eyes
instantly dropped before hers. She gravely bent her head to Anne, and
drew her veil. Her son followed her out in silence to the gate.

Anne returned to her room, sustained by the first sense of relief which
she had felt since the morning. "His mother is alarmed," she said to
herself. "A change will come."

A change _was_ to come--with the coming night.

CHAPTER THE FIFTY-FIRST.

THE PROPOSAL.

TOWARD sunset, Lady Holchester's carriage drew up before the gate of the
cottage.

Three persons occupied the carriage: Lady Holchester, her eldest son
(now Lord Holchester), and Sir Patrick Lundie.

"Will you wait in the carriage, Sir Patrick?" said Julius. "Or will
you come in?"

"I will wait. If I can be of the least use to _her,_, send for me
instantly. In the mean time don't forget to make the stipulation which I
have suggested. It is the one certain way of putting your brother's real
feeling in this matter to the test."

The servant had rung the bell without producing any result. He rang
again. Lady Holchester put a question to Sir Patrick.

"If I have an opportunity of speaking to my son's wife alone," she said,
"have you any message to give?"

Sir Patrick produced a little note.

"May I appeal to your ladyship's kindness to give her this?" The gate
was opened by the servant-girl, as Lady Holchester took the no