er boy more tightly to her, and held out the other
threateningly at Sir Murray. "You cold-blooded, cowardly miscreant--you
destroyer of the hope and happiness, perhaps the life, of that sweet,
suffering woman! how dare you confront me with your base, clumsily
built-up reasoning, as if every woman upon earth possessed your vile,
suspicious nature! You dare to come here with your base subterfuges--
your dastardly insinuations--to try and make me believe that Lady
Gernon, my pure-hearted cousin, and confidante from a child, has fled
with my noble, true, and faithful husband! You lie, you false-hearted
dastard--you insidious, courtly, smooth villain--you lie, and you know
it! Heaven forgive me my passion, but it is enough to madden me! Go!
leave here this instant; for you pollute the place, and you tempt me to
believe that you have murdered her! Yes, you may start! But my
husband! as true-hearted and honourable a man as ever breathed! How
dare you?"

"Woman, where is your husband?" cried Sir Murray, fiercely.

"I do not know. He is from home. How dare you question me?"

"Poor, weak, self-deceiving creature!" he said, contemptuously, "I do
not question you! I have noticed--Nay, stay here!" he exclaimed,
catching her by the wrist. "You shall hear me! They have been planning
long enough now! It was a cursed day when I returned to the Castle; and
I soon found that out, though you blinded yourself to the truth. But
sooner than have any scandal--than have my name dragged through the
Divorce Court, and sneered at by every contemptible fool--I have borne
all in silence--suffered, as man never before suffered; and, rejoicing
in my weakness, they have corresponded and met! Fool that I was, when I
found them last in the wood, and covered the villain--the serpent, the
robber of my jewels and of my honour--when I covered him with my pistol,
that I did not shoot him down as one would a common thief and burglar!
But, no; I would not have a scandal afloat, even though I was becoming
the laughingstock and by-word of my servants! But, there, go! I pity
and admire you; for I can feel--you teach me to feel--that, there may be
yet women worthy of faith!"

As he spoke he threw her hand roughly from him just as the door opened,
and Mr and Mrs Elstree entered the room.

"You are here, then!" exclaimed the Rector, in agonised tones. "We have
been to the Castle. In Heaven's name, Murray--Ada--what does all this
mean? We hea