ppointment, which had made her for the time being a trifle
discontented with her own fair lot.

She took an early opportunity, when Gladys conducted her to the
guest-chamber, to put another question to her.

'Gladys, how long is it since George was here?'

'I have never seen him since that night in your house, when he didn't
come up to the drawing-room,' answered Gladys calmly.

'But he has written, I suppose?'

'No; nor have I.'

'My dear girl, this is very serious,' said Mrs. Fordyce gravely. 'What
was the difference about? You will tell me, my dear? I have your best
interests at heart, but I cannot help thinking it is rather soon to
disagree.'

'I don't think we disagreed, only I said I should ask whom I like to
Bourhill. Surely that was within my rights?' said Gladys proudly.

'Oh yes, to a certain degree, but not when you harbour questionable
characters--yes, I repeat it, questionable characters, such as the girl
who ran off this morning I hope you counted your spoons to-day, Gladys?'

Gladys could have laughed, only she was too miserable.

'Oh, what absurd mistakes you make!' was all she said.

'Not so very absurd, I think. Well, as I said, I think George only
showed that he had a proper regard for you and your peculiar position
here. We know the world, my love; you do not. I think now, surely, you
will allow us to be the judges of what is best for you?'

'I think he has behaved shamefully to me, not having come, or even
written, for so long, and I don't think I can forgive him. Think, if he
were to treat me so after I was his wife, how dreadful it would be. It
would certainly break my heart.'

'My dear, the cases are not parallel. When you are his wife your
interests will be identical, and there never will be any dispute.'

Gladys shook her head. She did not feel at all sure of any such thing.

'I cannot help thinking, my dear child, that the sooner you are married
the better it will be for you. You are too much isolated here, and that
Miss Peck, good little woman though she is, is only an old sheep. I must
for ever regret the circumstances which prevented Madame Bonnemain
coming to Bourhill.'

Mrs. Fordyce felt the above conversation to be so unsatisfactory that
she occupied herself before dinner in writing a letter to her nephew, in
which she treated him to some very plain-speaking, and pointed out that
unless he made haste to atone for past shortcomings, his chance of
winning the heiress of