nt, ignoring when he pleased, courting no one's
favor, and yet, be--nobody knew who.

And what a fool she had been, trusting him with her personal secrets;
putting her private letters into his hands. How he must be laughing at
her in his sleeve! Exasperating thought. Worse than all else, to be
laughed at. What worse calamity can befall poor, arrogant human nature?

Constance was now thoroughly angry, and, "by the same token," thoroughly
unreasonable. It is highly objectionable in a heroine; but Constance, as
we have said before, is a very human heroine. And, dear reader, however
sensible you be, if you have ever been in just the state of mind in
which Constance Wardour found herself that morning, and most of us have,
I promise you, you were not one whit more reasonable; not one whit less
capable of being aggressive, unreasonable, and generally disagreeable.

And now, the perverse imp who goes about, concocting horrible practical
jokes, and stirring up _contretemps_, seemed to take possession of the
field; for, just at the moment when he should have been at least five
miles away, Doctor Heath, unannounced, appeared at the drawing-room
door,--smiling, too, looking provokingly sure of a welcome, and
handsomer than usual.

Miss Wardour's self-possession was as instant as her indignation.

"Good morning, Doctor Heath," frigidly. "I am sorry you found it
necessary to admit yourself in this manner. I suppose my servants _are_
neglectful."

"Not at all," replied he, discovering that she was out of humor, but not
divining the cause. "Your housemaid admitted me, and thinking you in
your own room, was about to usher me in here, and go to announce me,
when I saved her the trouble, telling her that my time was limited, and
admitting myself; had I known you were here, I should not have intruded
without permission;" then perceiving that her face retained its
frigidity, his voice took on a shade of haughtiness as he laid a packet
upon the table, saying: "I have brought back your 'proofs;' Mr. Bathurst
wished me to say, if I chanced to see you first, that is," hesitating.

"I have not seen Mr. Bathurst."

"No!" Doctor Heath seemed to be somewhat affected by the chill of the
atmosphere. "Then I am to say that he has something for your private
ear, and that when he comes, he begs that you will contrive in some way
to see him, whether your other officer is here or no."

A grave bow from Lapland. Then,

"Officer Belknap is here,