dow, and asked
after the lame arm. He was sorry, he said, to see that it was still in
its sling. His tone was a little abrupt. Only Lady Winterbourne saw the
quick nervousness of the eyes,

"Oh! thank you," said Marcella, coldly, "I shall get back to work next
week."

She stooped and took up her book.

"I must please go and write some letters," she said, in answer to Lady
Winterbourne's flurried look.

And she walked away. Betty and Lady Ermyntrude also went to take off
their things.

"Aldous!" said Lady Winterbourne, holding out her hand to him.

He took it, glanced unwillingly at her wistful, agitated face, pressed
the hand, and let it go.

"Isn't it sad," said his old friend, unable to help herself, "to see her
battling like this with life--with thought--all alone? Isn't it sad,
Aldous?"

"Yes," he said. Then, after a pause, "Why _doesn't_ she go home? My
patience gives out when I think of Mrs. Boyce."

"Oh! it isn't Mrs. Boyce's fault," said Lady Winterbourne, hopelessly.
"And I don't know why one should be sorry for her particularly--why one
should want her to change her life again. She does it splendidly. Only
I never, _never_ feel that she is a bit happy in it."

It was Hallin's cry over again.

He said nothing for a moment; then he forced a smile.

"Well! neither you nor I can help it, can we?" he said. The grey eyes
looked at her steadily--bitterly. Lady Winterbourne, with the sensation
of one who, looking for softness, has lit on granite, changed the
subject.

Meanwhile, Marcella upstairs was walking restlessly up and down. She
could hardly keep herself from rushing off--back to Brown's Buildings at
once. _He_ in the room while she was saying those things! Lady Selina's
words burnt in her ears. Her morbid, irritable sense was all one
vibration of pride and revolt. Apology--appeal--under the neatest comedy
guise! Of course!--now that Lord-Maxwell was dying, and the ill-used
suitor was so much the nearer to his earldom. A foolish girl had
repented her of her folly--was anxious to make those concerned
understand--what more simple?

Her nerves were strained and out of gear. Tears came in a proud,
passionate gush; and she must needs allow herself the relief of them.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, Lady Selina had gone home full of new and uncomfortable
feelings. She could not get Marcella Boyce out of her head--neither as
she had just seen her, under the wing of "that foo