excuse for his conduct than that he had an engagement.
And this when I have a double claim on his consideration, as his
father-in-law and his guest.

September 11th.--The day began well enough. At breakfast, Marmaduke
spoke feelingly of the unhappy result of my visit to his lordship, and
asked me to let him look at the list of repairs. "It is just useless
to expect anything from my lord, after what has happened," I said.
"Besides, Mr. Helmsley gave me no hope when I stated my case to him."
Marmaduke still held out his hand for the list. "Let me try if I can
get some subscribers," he replied. This was kindly meant, at any rate.
I gave him the list; and I began to recover some of my old friendly
feeling for him. Alas! the little gleam of tranquillity proved to be of
short duration.

We made out our plans for the day pleasantly enough. The check came when
Felicia spoke next of our plans for the evening. "My father has only
four days more to pass with us," she said to her husband. "Surely you
won't go out again to-night, and leave him?" Marmaduke's face clouded
over directly; he looked embarrassed and annoyed. I sat perfectly
silent, leaving them to settle it by themselves.

"You will stay with us this evening, won't you?" says Felicia. No: he
was not free for the evening. "What! another engagement? Surely you can
put it off?" No; impossible to put it off. "Is it a ball, or a party of
some kind?" No answer; he changed the subject--he offered Felicia the
money repaid to him for the bracelet. "Buy one for yourself, my dear,
this time." Felicia handed him back the money, rather too haughtily,
perhaps. "I don't want a bracelet," she said; "I want your company in
the evening."

He jumped up, good-tempered as he was, in something very like a
rage--then looked at me, and checked himself on the point (as I believe)
of using profane language. "This is downright persecution!" he burst
out, with an angry turn of his head toward his wife. Felicia got up, in
her turn. "Your language is an insult to my father and to me!" He looked
thoroughly staggered at this: it was evidently their first serious
quarrel.

Felicia took no notice of him. "I will get ready directly, father;
and we will go out together." He stopped her as she was leaving the
room--recovering his good temper with a readiness which it pleased me
to see. "Come, come, Felicia! We have not quarreled yet, and we won't
quarrel now. Let me off this one time more, and I wi