too nice, you and I, heretofore, and, the truth being very far from
nice, have expended much trouble and ingenuity in our efforts to ignore
it. We went up to London in the fond hope that the world at large would
support us in our self-deception. So it did, for a time. But, being in
the main composed of very fairly honest and sensible persons, it has
grown tired of sentimental lying, of helping us to bury our heads
ostrich-like in the sand. It has gone over to the side of truth--that
very far from flattering or pretty truth to which I have just
alluded--with this result, among others, that my engagement has come to
an abrupt and really rather melodramatic conclusion."

He paused.

"Go on, Richard," Lady Calmady said, "I am listening."

He drew himself up, sitting very erect, keeping his eyes steadily fixed
on her, speaking steadily and coldly, though his lips twitched a
little.

"Lady Constance did me the honour to call on me last night, rather
later than this, absenting herself in the very thick of Lady Louisa
Barking's ball for that purpose."

Katherine moved slightly, her dress rustled.

"Yes--considering her character and her training it was a rather
surprising _demarche_ on her part, and bore convincing testimony to her
agitation of mind."

"Did she come alone?"

Richard lapsed into an easier position.

"Oh, dear no!" he said. "Allowing for the desperation which dictated
her proceedings, they were carried out in a very regular manner, with a
praiseworthy regard for appearances. Lady Constance is, in my opinion,
a very sweet person. She is perfectly modest and has an unusual
regard--as women go--for honour and duty--as women understand
them."--Again his voice took on that rasping quality. "She brought a
friend, a young lady, with her. Fortunately there was no occasion for
me to speak to her--she had the good taste to efface herself during our
interview. But I saw her in the hall afterwards. I shall always
remember that very distinctly. So, I imagine, will she. Then Lord
Shotover waited outside with the carriage. Oh! believe me, admitting
its inherent originality, the affair was conducted with an admirable
regard for appearances."

Again the regular flow of Richard's speech was broken. His throat had
gone very dry.

"Lady Constance appealed to me in extremely moving terms, articulate
and otherwise, to set her free."

"To set her free--and upon what grounds?"

"Upon the rather crude, but preeminentl