war against the guest, who was a
representative in her eyes of all that was narrow-minded and
contemptible. Here was a girl, she seemed to tell herself, who had had
every opportunity of emancipation, who had been singularly favoured in
being noticed by Ralph, and who had audaciously thrown him over for the
sake of some ridiculous scruples worthy only of idiots and nuns. Indeed
to Chris it was fairly plain that his mother had consented so willingly
to Beatrice's visit with the express purpose of punishing her.

But Beatrice held her own triumphantly.

* * * * *

They had not sat down three minutes before Lady Torridon opened the
assault, with grave downcast face and in her silkiest manner. She went
abruptly back to the point where the conversation had been interrupted
in the parlour by Margaret's entrance.

"Mistress Atherton," she observed, playing delicately with her spoon, "I
think you said that to your mind the times were difficult for those who
had no opinions."

Beatrice looked at her pleasantly.

"Yes, Mistress Torridon; at least more difficult for those, than for the
others who know their own mind."

The other waited a moment, expecting the girl to justify herself, but
she was forced to go on.

"Abbot Marshall knew his mind, but it was not easy for him."

(The news had just arrived of the Abbot's execution).

"Do you think not, mistress? I fear I still hold my opinion."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"I mean that unless we have something to hold to, in these troublesome
times, we shall drift. That is all."

"Ah! and drift whither?"

Beatrice smiled so genially as she answered, that the other had no
excuse for taking offence.

"Well, it might be better not to answer that."

Lady Torridon looked at her with an impassive face.

"To hell, then?" she said.

"Well, yes: to hell," said Beatrice.

There was a profound silence; broken by the stifled merriment of a
servant behind the chairs, who transformed it hastily into a cough. Sir
James glanced across in great distress at his son; but Chris' eyes
twinkled at him.

Lady Torridon was silent a moment, completely taken aback by the
suddenness with which the battle had broken, and amazed by the girl's
audacity. She herself was accustomed to use brutality, but not to meet
it. She laid her spoon carefully down.

"Ah!" she said, "and you believe that? And for those who hold wrong
opinions, I suppose you would beli