hey made some
money between them.

After the bitter lesson he had received Bassett vowed to himself he
never would attack Sir Charles again unless he was sure of victory. For
all this he hated him and Lady Bassett worse than ever, hated them to
the death.

He never moved a finger down at Huntercombe, nor said a word; but in
London he employed a private inquirer to find out where Lady Bassett
had lived at the time of her confinement, and whether any clergyman had
visited her.

The private inquirer could find out nothing, and Bassett, comparing his
advertisements with his performance, dismissed him for a humbug.

But the office brought him into contact with a great many medical men,
one after another. He used to say to each stranger, with an insidious
smile, "I think you once attended my cousin--Lady Bassett."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

SIR CHARLES and Lady Bassett, relieved of their cousin's active enmity,
led a quiet life, and one that no longer furnished striking incidents.

But dramatic incident is not everything: character and feeling show
themselves in things that will not make pictures. Now it was precisely
during this reposeful period that three personages of this story
exhibited fresh traits of feeling, and also of character.

To begin with Sir Charles Bassett. He came back from the asylum much
altered in body and mind. Stopping his cigars had improved his stomach;
working in the garden had increased his muscular power, and his cheeks
were healthy, and a little sunburned, instead of sallow. His mind was
also improved: contemplation of insane persons had set him by a natural
recoil to study self-control. He had returned a philosopher. No small
thing could irritate him now. So far his character was elevated.

Lady Bassett was much the same as before, except a certain
restlessness. She wanted to be told every day, or twice a day, that her
husband was happy; and, although he was visibly so, yet, as he was
quiet over it, she used to be always asking him if he was happy. This
the reader must interpret as he pleases.

Mary Gosport gave herself airs. Respectful to her master and mistress,
but not so tolerant of chaff in the kitchen as she used to be. Made an
example of one girl, who threw a doubt on her marriage. Complained to
Lady Bassett, affected to fret, and the girl was dismissed.

She turned singer. She had always sung psalms in church, but never a
profane note in the house. Now she took to singing over h