me out
of she shrank.

CHAPTER IX

That talk with Lord Hurdly made a distinct epoch in their relations
to each other. Neither ever referred to it, but it had left its
impress upon both. To Bettina it gave the assurance that she had done
all that could possibly be required of her, in her desire to come to
a true and amicable understanding with her husband, and, after it,
she had a greater sense of freedom. To Lord Hurdly it gave an insight
into Bettina's nature which he had not had before. He found her to
be possessed of a power of caustic speech which, he was bound to
acknowledge, had made him feel uncomfortable. He felt also that
he had not succeeded in asserting his supremacy over her quite
so conclusively as he could have wished. He had, moreover, an
uncomfortable warning, from the recollection of her words and looks,
that it might be better for him to think twice in future before
crossing swords with her. He was a man who hated opposition, and who
was quite unused to dealing with it in his own house. He was still
master, and his sovereignty no one had even questioned. As he desired
to keep this so, he did not care to enter into any further discussion
with Bettina. There were circumstances not beyond his conceiving
which might cause him a greater loss of prestige than any already
endured, and the thought of these made him careful to avoid coming
again into close quarters with Bettina.

This position on his part led to an attitude toward his wife which
might have been interpreted agreeably, since he no longer seemed to
watch her so narrowly as he had done. He seemed, without speaking on
the subject, to give her rather more freedom, and he never again
referred to her interest in the Indian famine or in the doings of
Horace Spotswood.

Yet Bettina had the same uncomfortable sense of being criticised and
held to strict account. She felt as if evidence were rolling up
against her which might one day be brought before her all at once.

She had, however, acquired a thirst for some knowledge of things
beyond her own narrow interests, which was not to be calmed except by
indulgence. When she looked about her in the great throbbing life of
London, she found so many objects which seemed absolutely to stand
waiting for her interest and participation that she was soon caught
in the strong movement of woman's work in social life in its wider
and deeper meaning.

No sooner was it found that Lady Hurdly was willing