, children," said Lady Rachel, making an effort to
rise. "I will send for you presently." The elder ones appeared glad to
escape, and they carried with them the struggling Flora.

Lady Rachel threw up the sash, crossed her arms, and said, in the most
formal manner, "What do you want, Lady Carse?"

"I want my children."

"You cannot have them, as you well know. It is too late. I pity you;
but it is too late."

"I will see my children. I will come home and live. I will make that
tyrant repent setting up anyone in my place at home. I have it in my
power to ruin him. I--"

"Abstain from threats," said Lady Rachel, shutting the window, and
fastening the sash.

Lady Carse doubled her fist, as if about to dash in a pane; but the iron
gates behind her creaked on their hinges, and she turned her head. A
chair was entering, on each side of which walked a footman, whose livery
Lady Carse well knew. Her handsome face, red before, was now more
flushed. She put her mouth close to the window, and said, "If it had
been anybody but Lovat you would not have been rid of me this evening.
I would have stood among the chairmen till midnight for the chance of
getting in. Be sure I shall to-morrow, or some day. But now I am off."
She darted past the chair, her face turned away, just as Lord Lovat was
issuing from it.

"Ho! ho!" cried he, in a loud and mocking tone. "Ho, there! my Lady
Carse! A word with you!" But she ran up the Wynd as fast as she could
go.

"You should not look so white upon it," Lord Lovat observed to Lady
Rachel, as soon as the door was shut. "Why do you let her see her power
over you?"

"God knows!" replied Lady Rachel. "But it is not her threats alone that
make us nervous. It is the being incessantly subject--"

She cleared her throat; but she could not go on.

Lord Lovat swore that he would not submit to be tormented by a virago in
this way. If Lady Carse were his wife--

"Well! what would you do?" asked Lady Rachel.

"I would get rid of her. I tell your brother so. I would get rid of
her in one way, if she threatened to get rid of me in another. She may
have learned from her father how to put her enemies out of the way."

Lady Rachel grew paler than ever. Lord Lovat went on.

"Her father carried pistols in the streets of Edinburgh and so may she.
Her father was hanged for it; and it is my belief that she would have no
objection to that end if she could have her revenge first.