in his face, and have done with him for ever.
Some day I will, when I am of age, and Gerard has won his way.'

Meantime Alice, in some trepidation, but with resolution at the bottom,
had told her husband of the meeting with Mrs. Houghton, of her
widowhood, sickness, and poverty.

He did not like the intelligence of their meeting, and hoped no one had
seen it; then, when reassured on this score, he hummed a little and
exclaimed, 'Poor old Flossy Houghton! I don't wonder! They went the
pace! Well, what do you want? Twenty pounds for her! Why, 'twill all
be at Monte Carlo in three days' time.'

'It is very good of you, but I want more than that. She is so ill and
wretched, you know.'

'I can't have you visiting her, if that's what you mean. Why, after
all the pains I've been at to get you on your proper level at home,
here's my Lady Louisa and all her crew, in their confounded insolence,
fighting shy of you, and you can't give them a better colour for it
than by running after a woman like that--divorced to begin with, and
known at every gambling table in Europe.'

'I know that, Alwyn, dear Alwyn' (it was very seldom that she called
him so, and she put her clasped hands on his shoulder); 'but I am sure
she is dying, and she was so good to me, I can't bear doing nothing for
her.'

'Well, there's twenty--fifty, if you like.'

'Thank you, thank you, but you know I never meant to visit
her--like--like society; only to go sometimes privately and--'

'And how about your daughter?'

'I would not take her on any account. What I want to do is this. Mrs.
Houghton spoke of her sister, a kind good woman in England, who would
take her home, and love her, if only she could bring herself to go.
Now, I think I could persuade her to write, or let me write to the
sister--and if only the two were together again! It is very dreadful
to think of her dying alone, in the way she is going on!'

'What, little saint, you want to try your hand on her? I should say
she was too tough an old sinner for you.'

'Oh, Alwyn! her heart was very near, though she tried to keep it back.
I do not want to--to do what you mean--only to get her to let her
sister come. I'm sure that would do the rest.'

'If any sister does more than you, you little witch,' he said.

Alice pressed him no more then, but a day or two later, when she knew
he had an engagement, she arranged to dispose of Nuttie with the
clergyman's wife, and then begged permiss