ve, too? Well, well, when papa
comes home, I will lay the whole case before him."

"Not for the world!" cried Rachael, suddenly. "I tell you, cast this
subject from your mind. I will not have my lord annoyed by it. For once,
Clara, I must and will be obeyed."

Clara sank back in her seat, aghast with surprise.

"Oh, mamma Rachael, you are getting to be awfully cruel."

"Cruel? No! In this I am acting kindly. It is you who are cruel in
pressing a distasteful and impossible thing upon me."

"I don't understand it; I can't believe it. You are always so free, so
generous, to those who need help. It is just because this poor girl is
my friend. Oh! I only wish old Lady Carset would just die, and leave me
everything! I would let the world see a specimen of independence--I
would! Don't speak to me, don't attempt to touch my hand, Mr. Closs! You
haven't a spark of human nature in you. I have a good mind to leave you
all, and go on the stage myself."

Again Lady Hope broke into a storm of impatience so unlike her usual
self-restraint, that Clara was really terrified.

"Hush, girl! Not another word of this. I will not endure it."

This severe reprimand took away Clara's breath for an instant; then she
burst into a passion of sobs and tears, huddling herself up into a
corner of the carriage, and utterly refused all consolation from
Hepworth, who was generously disturbed by her grief.

Lady Hope did nothing, but sat in silence, lost in thought, or perhaps
striving to subdue the tumult of feelings that had so suddenly broke
forth from her usual firm control.

Thus they drove home in distrust and excitement. A few low murmurs from
Hepworth, bursts of grief from Lady Clara, and dead silence on the part
of Rachael Closs, attended the first disagreement that had ever set the
stepmother and daughter in opposition.

When they reached home, Clara, her face all bathed in tears, and her
bosom heaving with sobs, ran up to her room, without the usual kiss or
"Good-night."

She was bitterly offended, and expressed the feeling in her own childish
fashion.

Rachael sat down in the hall, and watched the girl as she glided up the
broad staircase, perhaps hoping that she would look back, or, it may be,
regretting the course she had taken, for her face was unutterably sad,
and her attitude one of great despondency.

At last, when Clara was out of sight, she turned a wistful look on her
brother.

"She will hate me now."

Her voice