Beatrice cast an ironically despairing look behind her at the servants.

"Well," she said, "if you will have it: that was why I would not marry
him. Did you not know that, Mistress?"

It was so daring that Margaret caught her breath suddenly; and looked
hopelessly round. Her father and brother had their eyes steadily bent on
the table; and the priest was looking oddly at the quiet angry woman
opposite him.

Then Sir James slid deftly in, after a sufficient pause to let the
lesson sink home; and began to talk of indifferent things; and Beatrice
answered him with the same ease.

Lady Torridon made one more attempt just before the end of supper, when
the servants had left the room.

"You are living on--" she corrected herself ostentatiously--"you are
living with any other family now, Mistress Atherton? I remember my son
Ralph telling me you were almost one of Master More's household."

Beatrice met her eyes with a delightful smile.

"I am living on--with your family at this time, Mistress Torridon."

There was no more to be said just then. The girl had not only turned her
hostess' point, but had pricked her shrewdly in riposte, three times;
and the last was the sharpest of all.

Lady Torridon led the way to the oak parlour in silence.

* * * * *

She made no more assaults that night; but sat in dignified aloofness,
her hands on her lap, with an air of being unconscious of the presence
of the others. Beatrice sat with Margaret on the long oak settle; and
talked genially to the company at large.

When compline had been said, Sir James drew Chris aside into the
star-lit court as the others went on in front.

"Dear lad," he said, "what are we to do? This cannot go on. Your
mother--"

Chris smiled at him, and took his arm a moment.

"Why, father," he said, "what more do we want? Mistress Atherton can
hold her own."

"But your mother will insult her."

"She will not be able," said Chris. "Mistress Atherton will not have it.
Did you not see how she enjoyed it?"

"Enjoyed it?"

"Why, yes; her eyes shone."

"Well, I must speak to her," said Sir James, still perplexed. "Come with
me, Chris."

Mr. Carleton was just leaving the parlour as they came up to its
outside door. Sir James drew him into the yard. There were no secrets
between these two.

"Father," he said, "did you notice? Do you think Mistress Atherton will
be able to stay here?"

He saw to his astonishment that