n of native slipperiness. Nor did she stir the mud in him upon which
proud man is built. The shadow of the scandal had checked a few shifty
sensations rising now and then of their own accord, and had laid them,
with the lady's benign connivance. This was good proof in her favour,
seeing that she must have perceived of late the besetting thirst he had
for her company; and alone or in the medley equally. To see her, hear,
exchange ideas with her; and to talk of new books, try to listen to
music at the opera and at concerts, and admire her playing of
hostess, were novel pleasures, giving him fresh notions of life, and
strengthening rather than disturbing the course of his life's business.

At any rate, she was capable of friendship. Why not resolutely believe
that she had been his uncle's true and simple friend! He adopted the
resolution, thanking her for one recognized fact:--he hated marriage,
and would by this time have been in the yoke, but for the agreeable
deviation of his path to her society. Since his visit to Copsley,
moreover, Lady Dunstane's idolizing, of her friend had influenced him.
Reflecting on it, he recovered from the shock which his uncle's request
had caused.

Certain positive calculations were running side by side with the
speculations in vapour. His messenger would reach her house at about
four of the afternoon. If then at home, would she decide to start
immediately?--Would she come? That was a question he did not delay to
answer. Would she defer the visit? Death replied to that. She would not
delay it.

She would be sure to come at once. And what of the welcome she would
meet? Leaving the station at London at six in the evening, she might
arrive at the Priory, all impediments counted, between ten and eleven at
night. Thence, coldly greeted, or not greeted, to the chamber of death.

A pitiable and cruel reception for a woman upon such a mission!

His mingled calculations and meditations reached that exclamatory
terminus in feeling, and settled on the picture of Diana, about as clear
as light to blinking eyes, but enough for him to realize her being there
and alone, woefully alone. The supposition of an absolute loneliness
was most possible. He had intended to drive back the next day, when the
domestic storm would be over, and take the chances of her coming. It
seemed now a piece of duty to return at night, a traverse of twenty
rough up and down miles from Itchenford to the heath-land rolling on th