ipping his wine, he made up
his mind that he would leave Harrington Hall the next morning. When
he was again in the drawing-room, things were conducted in just the
same way. He spoke to Adelaide, and she answered him; but there was
no word of encouragement--not a tone of comfort in her voice. He
found himself driven to attempt conversation with the strange lady,
and at last was made to play whist with Lady Chiltern and the
two new-corners. Later on in the evening, when Adelaide had gone
to her own chamber, he was invited by Lady Chiltern into her own
sitting-room upstairs, and there the whole thing was explained to
him. Miss Palliser had declared that the match should be broken off.

"Do you mean altogether, Lady Chiltern?"

"Certainly I do. Such a resolve cannot be a half-and-half
arrangement."

"But why?"

"I think you must know why, Mr. Maule."

"I don't in the least. I won't have it broken off. I have as much
right to have a voice in the matter as she has, and I don't in the
least believe it's her doing."

"Mr. Maule!"

"I do not care; I must speak out. Why does she not tell me so
herself?"

"She did tell you so."

"No, she didn't. She said something, but not that. I don't suppose
a man was ever so used before; and it's all Lord Chiltern;--just
because I told him that he had no right to interfere with me. And he
has no right."

"You and Oswald were away together when she told me that she had made
up her mind. Oswald has hardly spoken to her since you have been in
the house. He certainly has not spoken to her about you since you
came to us."

"What is the meaning of it, then?"

"You told her that your engagement had overwhelmed you with
troubles."

"Of course; there must be troubles."

"And that--you would have to be banished to Boulogne when you were
married."

"I didn't mean her to take that literally."

"It wasn't a nice way, Mr. Maule, to speak of your future life to the
girl to whom you were engaged. Of course it was her hope to make your
life happier, not less happy. And when you made her understand--as
you did very plainly--that your married prospects filled you with
dismay, of course she had no other alternative but to retreat from
her engagement."

"I wasn't dismayed."

"It is not my doing, Mr. Maule."

"I suppose she'll see me?"

"If you insist upon it she will; but she would rather not."

Gerard, however, did insist, and Adelaide was brought to him there
into that room befo