r hand; he had his eye fixed upon her,
and suspected only deceit,--not violence. "Yes, I know how it must
be," she said, while her fingers approached nearer to the little
door.

"Then let her come to me."

"Will nothing turn you from it?"

"Nothing will turn me from it."

Then suddenly she withdrew her hand and confronted him more closely.
"Mine has been a hard life, Mr. Thwaite;--no life could have been
harder. But I have always had something before me for which to long,
and for which to hope;--something which I might reach if justice
should at length prevail."

"You have got money and rank."

"They are nothing--nothing. In all those many years, the thing that I
have looked for has been the splendour and glory of another, and the
satisfaction I might feel in having bestowed upon her all that she
owned. Do you think that I will stand by, after such a struggle,
and see you rob me of it all,--you,--you, who were one of the tools
which came to my hand to work with? From what you know of me, do you
think that my spirit could stoop so low? Answer me, if you have ever
thought of that. Let the eagles alone, and do not force yourself into
our nest. You will find, if you do, that you will be rent to pieces."

"This is nothing, Lady Lovel. I came here,--at your bidding, to see
your daughter. Let me see her."

"You will not go?"

"Certainly I will not go."

She looked at him as she slowly receded to her former
standing-ground, but he never for a moment suspected the nature of
her purpose. He began to think that some actual insanity had befallen
her, and was doubtful how he should act. But no fear of personal
violence affected him. He was merely questioning with himself whether
it would not be well for him to walk up-stairs into the upper room,
and seek Lady Anna there, as he stood watching the motion of her
eyes.

"You had better go," said she, as she again put her left hand on the
flat board of the open desk.

"You trifle with me, Lady Lovel," he answered. "As you will not allow
Lady Anna to come to me here, I will go to her elsewhere. I do not
doubt but that I shall find her in the house." Then he turned to
the door, intending to leave the room. He had been very near to her
while they were talking, so that he had some paces to traverse before
he could put his hand upon the lock,--but in doing so his back was
turned on her. In one respect it was better for her purpose that it
should be so. She could open the doo