e earlier morning, anything but friendly. She did all she
could to humble him--insisted on paying him for the fish, and ordered
him, because they smelt of the stable, to take off his boots before he
went up stairs--to his master's room, as she phrased it. But Mr. Crathie
was cordial, and, to Malcolm's great satisfaction, much recovered. He
had better than pleasant talk with him.

CHAPTER LXIX.

LIZZY'S BABY.

While they were out in the fishing-boat together, Clementina had, with
less difficulty than she had anticipated, persuaded Lizzy to tell Lady
Lossie her secret. It was in the hope of an interview with her false
lover that the poor girl had consented so easily.

A great longing had risen within her to have the father of her child
acknowledge him--only to her--taking him once in his arms. That was all.
She had no hope--thought indeed she had no desire--for herself. But a
kind word to him would be welcome as light. The love that covers sins
had covered the multitude of his, and although hopelessness had put
desire to sleep, she would gladly have given her life for a loving smile
from him. But mingled with this longing to see him once with his child
in his arms, a certain loyalty to the house of Lossie also influenced
her to listen to the solicitation of Lady Clementina and tell the
marchioness the truth. She cherished no resentment against Liftore, but
not therefore was she willing to allow a poor young thing like Lady
Lossie, whom they all liked, to be sacrificed to such a man, who would
doubtless at length behave badly enough to her also.

With trembling hands, and heart now beating wildly, now failing for
fear, she dressed her baby and herself as well as she could, and about
one o'clock went to the House.

Now, nothing would have better pleased Lady Clementina than that Liftore
and Lizzy should meet in Florimel's presence, but she recoiled
altogether from the small stratagems, not to mention the lies, necessary
to the effecting of such a confrontation. So she had to content herself
with bringing the two girls together, and when Lizzy was a little rested
and had had a glass of wine, went to look for Florimel.

She found her in a little room adjoining the library, which, on her
first coming to Lossie, she had chosen for her waking nest. Liftore had,
if not quite the freedom of the spot, yet privileges there, but at that
moment Florimel was alone in it. Clementina informed her that a
fisher-girl, with a sad