stress of a
royal household. At the proper time she showed herself at Lord
Hurdly's side, and she had beauty enough and wit enough not only to
do credit to that high position, but to cast a glory over it which he
knew in his heart no other Lady Hurdly of them all had ever done.

That she enjoyed it, who could doubt that saw her, day after day and
evening after evening, beautifying with her presence the social
gatherings at her own splendid house, and at those of the new
acquaintances who sought her society and distinguished her with their
attentions wherever she might go.

Having had no experience of wealth, it never seemed to occur to her
that it could have its definite limit, and she ordered costumes and
invented ways of spending money which sometimes surprised her lord,
but which also pleased him. His fortune was so large, and had been so
long without such demands upon it, that it was a source of genuine
satisfaction to him to see that Bettina knew how to avail herself of
her brilliant opportunity. Save and except a wife, he was already
possessed of every adjunct that could do credit to his name and
position, and in marrying Bettina he had been largely influenced by
the fact that she was qualified to supply this one deficiency with a
distinction which no other woman he had ever seen could have bestowed
upon the position.

So, to the world, Bettina seemed completely satisfied, and in the
worldly sense she was so. In this sense, also, Lord Hurdly seemed and
was satisfied in his marriage. How it was with them in their hearts
no one knew, and perhaps there was no one who cared to know. The one
being to whom this question was of strong interest was very far away.
He had shifted his position from Russia to India about the time of
his cousin's marriage, and Bettina never heard his name mentioned,
nor did she ever utter it.

After the London season was over, Lord and Lady Hurdly had moved
from their town-house to the family seat, Kingdon Hall. Here, after
a day's stop, Lord Hurdly had left her, to return to town on some
public business; and so, for the first time since her marriage, she
had a few days to herself. Later they were to have the house filled
with guests, and after that to make some visits; so this time of
solitude was not likely to be repeated soon. Bettina was surprised
at herself to see how eagerly she clutched at it. It was, in some
faint degree, like the feeling which she had had after the rare and
shor