chief made its threatening appearance on the old lady's face.

"What sort of company have you been keeping since I last saw you?" she
began.

"What have you got to do with the company I keep?"

"Nothing whatever, I am happy to say. I was merely wondering whether you
have been traveling lately in the south part of Africa, and have lived
exclusively in the society of Hottentots. The only other explanation of
your behavior is that I have been so unfortunate as to offend you. But
it seems improbable--I am not your wife."

"Thank God for that!"

"Thank God, as you say. But I should really be glad (as a mere matter
of curiosity) to know what your extraordinary conduct means. You present
yourself in this room uninvited, you find a lady here, and you behave
as if you had come into a shop and wanted to ask the price of something.
Let me give you a lesson in good manners. Observe: I receive you with a
bow, and I say: How do you do, Mr. Linley? Do you understand me?"

"I don't want to understand you--I want to see Catherine."

"Who is Catherine?"

"You know as well as I do--your daughter."

"My daughter, sir, is a stranger to you. We will speak of her, if you
please, by the name--the illustrious name--which she inherited at her
birth. You wish to see Mrs. Norman?"

"Call her what you like. I have a word to say to her, and I mean to say
it."

"No, Mr. Linley, you won't say it."

"We'll see about that! Where is she?"

"My daughter is not well."

"Well or ill, I shan't keep her long."

"My daughter has retired to her room."

"Where is her room?"

Mrs. Presty moved to the fireplace, and laid her hand on the bell.

"Are you aware that this house is a hotel?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter to me what it is."

"Oh yes, it does. A hotel keeps waiters. A hotel, when it is as large as
this, has a policeman in attendance. Must I ring?"

The choice between giving way to Mrs. Presty, or being disgracefully
dismissed, was placed plainly before him. Herbert's life had been the
life of a gentleman; he knew that he had forgotten himself; it was
impossible that he could hesitate.

"I won't trouble you to ring," he said; "and I will beg your pardon for
having allowed my temper to get the better of me. At the same time
it ought to be remembered, I think, in my favor, that I have had some
provocation."

"I don't agree with you," Mrs. Presty answered. She was deaf to any
appeal for mercy from Herbert Linley. "As to provoca