ut through the window at
the placid landscape of woods and fields which surrounded Ham Farm.

"I was prepared for this outbreak," she said, sadly. "These wild words
relieve your over-burdened heart, my poor child. I can wait, Blanche--I
can wait!"

Blanche stopped, and confronted Lady Lundie.

"You and I never liked each other," she said. "I wrote you a pert letter
from this place. I have always taken Anne's part against you. I have
shown you plainly--rudely, I dare say--that I was glad to be married and
get away from you. This is not your revenge, is it?"

"Oh, Blanche, Blanche, what thoughts to think! what words to say! I can
only pray for you."

"I am mad, Lady Lundie. You bear with mad people. Bear with me. I
have been hardly more than a fortnight married. I love _him_--I love
_her_--with all my heart. Remember what you have told me about them.
Remember! remember! remember!"

She reiterated the words with a low cry of pain. Her hands went up to
her head again; and she returned restlessly to pacing this way and that
in the room.

Lady Lundie tried the effect of a gentle remonstrance. "For your own
sake," she said, "don't persist in estranging yourself from me. In this
dreadful trial, I am the only friend you have."

Blanche came back to her step-mother's chair; and looked at her
steadily, in silence. Lady Lundie submitted to inspection--and bore it
perfectly.

"Look into my heart," she said. "Blanche! it bleeds for you!"

Blanche heard, without heeding. Her mind was painfully intent on its
own thoughts. "You are a religious woman," she said, abruptly. "Will you
swear on your Bible, that what you told me is true?"

"_My_ Bible!" repeated Lady Lundie with sorrowful emphasis. "Oh, my
child! have _you_ no part in that precious inheritance? Is it not _your_
Bible, too?"

A momentary triumph showed itself in Blanche's face. "You daren't swear
it!" she said. "That's enough for me!"

She turned away scornfully. Lady Lundie caught her by the hand, and drew
her sharply back. The suffering saint disappeared, and the woman who was
no longer to be trifled with took her place.

"There must be an end to this," she said. "You don't believe what I have
told you. Have you courage enough to put it to the test?"

Blanche started, and released her hand. She trembled a little. There
was a horrible certainty of conviction expressed in Lady Lundie's sudden
change of manner.

"How?" she asked.

"You shall see. Tell me