was as proud as Lucifer--let him fall like Lucifer. You
may be sure he won't fall so very far. That kind never does. No, I want
him put down. I want him punished. He won't repent--he can't repent--and
there was never any one less like a lost sheep in the world.

"After which I think I will say good-night!"

* * * * *

A few days later, Connie, returning from a ramble with one of Lady
Winifred's stray dogs along the banks of the Scarfe, found her two aunts
at tea in the garden.

"Sit down, my dear Connie," said Lady Marcia, with a preoccupied look.
"We have just heard distressing news. The clergy are such gossips!"

The elevation of Aunt Winifred's sharp nose showed her annoyance.

"And you, Marcia, are always so dreadfully unfair to them. You were
simply dying for Mr. Latimer to tell you all he knew, and then you
abuse him."

"Perfectly true," said Lady Marcia provokingly, "but if he had snubbed
me, I should have respected him more."

Whereupon it was explained to Connie that a Mr. Latimer, rector of the
Fallodens' family living of Flood Magna, had just been paying a long
visit to the two ladies. He was a distant cousin and old crony of
theirs, and it was not long before they had persuaded him to pour out
all he knew about the Falloden affairs. "They must sell everything!"
said Lady Marcia, raising her hands and eyes in protest--"the estates,
the house, the pictures--my dear, think of the pictures! The nation of
course ought to buy them, but the nation never has a penny. And however
much they sell, it will only just clear them. There'll be nothing left
but Lady Laura's settlement--and that's only two thousand a year."

"Well, they won't starve," said Aunt Winifred, with a sniff, applying
for another piece of tea-cake. "It's no good, Marcia, your trying to
stir us up. The Fallodens are not beloved. Nobody will break their
hearts--except of course we shall all be sorry for Lady Laura and the
children. And it will be horrid to have new people at Flood."

"My dear Connie, it is a pity we haven't been able to take you to
Flood," said Lady Marcia to her niece, handing a cup of tea. "You know
Douglas, so of course you would have been shown everything. Such
pictures! Such lovely old rooms! And then the grounds--the cedars--the
old gardens! It really is a glorious place. I can't think why Winifred
is so hard-hearted about it!"

Lady Winifred pressed her thin lips together.

"Marcia,