Ay! you
wonder why I say such things to you, frightened as you are already. I
do it that you may not infuse any weakness into your brother's purposes,
if he should think fit to rid the town of her one of these days. Come,
come! I did not say rid the world of her."

"Merciful Heaven! no!"

"There are places, you know, where troublesome people have no means of
doing mischief. I could point out such a place presently, if I were
asked--a place where she might be as safe as under lock and key, without
the trouble and risk of confining her, and having to consider the law."

"You do not mean a prison, then?"

"No. She has not yet done anything to make it easy to put her in prison
for life; and anything short of that would be more risk than comfort.
If Carse gives me authority, I will dispose of her where she can be free
to rove like the wild goats. If she should take a fancy to jump down a
precipice, or drown herself, that is her own affair, you know."

The door opened for the entrance of company. Lord Lovat whispered once
more, "Only this. If Carse thinks of giving the case into my hands,
don't you oppose it. I will not touch her life, I swear to you."

Lady Rachel knew, like the rest of the world, that Lord Lovat's swearing
went for no more than any of his other engagements. Though she would
have given all she had in the world to be freed from the terror of Lady
Carse, and to hope that the children might forget their unhappy mother,
she shrank from the idea of putting any person into the hands of the
hard, and mocking, and plotting Lord Lovat. As for the legality of
doing anything at all to Lady Carse while she did not herself break the
law, that was a consideration which no more occurred to Lady Rachel than
to the violent Lord Lovat himself.

Lady Rachel was exerting herself to entertain her guests, and had sent
for the children, when, to her inexplicable relief, the butler brought
her the news that Lord Carse and his son Willie were home, and would
appear with all speed. They had been detained two hours in a tavern,
John said.

"In a tavern?"

"Yes, my lady. Could not get out. Did not wish to collect more people,
to cause a mob. It is all right now, my lady."

When Lord Carse entered, he made formal apologies to his guests first,
and his sister afterwards, for his late appearance. He had been delayed
by an affair of importance on his way home. His rigid countenance was
somewhat paler than usual