while. "You can go back
in the Lady Franklin if you like, my dear," he said. "I expect her every
day." At this decision--much to his surprise--she kissed him with more
show of affection than she had manifested since the death of her child.

The news of the approaching departure became known, but still North did
not make his appearance. Had it not been a step beneath the dignity of
a woman, Mrs. Frere would have gone herself and asked him the meaning of
his unaccountable rudeness, but there was just sufficient morbidity in
the sympathy she had for him to restrain her from an act which a young
girl--though not more innocent--would have dared without hesitation.
Calling one day upon the wife of the surgeon, however, she met the
chaplain face to face, and with the consummate art of acting which
most women possess, rallied him upon his absence from her house. The
behaviour of the poor devil, thus stabbed to the heart, was curious. He
forgot gentlemanly behaviour and the respect due to a woman, flung one
despairingly angry glance at her and abruptly retired. Sylvia flushed
crimson, and endeavoured to excuse North on account of his recent
illness. The surgeon's wife looked askance, and turned the conversation.
The next time Sylvia bowed to this lady, she got a chilling salute in
return that made her blood boil. "I wonder how I have offended Mrs.
Field?" she asked Maurice. "She almost cut me to-day." "Oh, the old
cat!" returned Maurice. "What does it matter if she did?" However, a few
days afterwards, it seemed that it did matter, for Maurice called upon
Field and conversed seriously with him. The issue of the conversation
being reported to Mrs. Frere, the lady wept indignant tears of wounded
pride and shame. It appeared that North had watched her out of the
house, returned, and related--in a "stumbling, hesitating way", Mrs.
Field said--how he disliked Mrs. Frere, how he did not want to visit
her, and how flighty and reprehensible such conduct was in a married
woman of her rank and station. This act of baseness--or profound
nobleness--achieved its purpose. Sylvia noticed the unhappy priest no
more. Between the Commandant and the chaplain now arose a coolness, and
Frere set himself, by various petty tyrannies, to disgust North, and
compel him to a resignation of his office. The convict-gaolers speedily
marked the difference in the treatment of the chaplain, and their
demeanour changed. For respect was substituted insolence; for