who looked pale and
frightened.

"Constance, did you know or did you not, that these two had a meeting
this morning in the park before Mr. Lashmar came to see you?"

"No, I knew nothing of that," answered Miss Bride, coldly.

"And did you know that they had met before, at the same place and time,
and that they came from town together by the same train, and that there
was a regular understanding between them to deceive you and me?"

"I knew nothing of all this."

"Look at her!" exclaimed Lady Ogram, pointing at the terrified girl.
"This is her gratitude; this is her honesty. She has lied to me in
every word she spoke! Lord Dymchurch offered her marriage, and she
tried to make me believe that he hadn't done so at all, that he was a
dishonourable shuffler--"

"Aunt!" cried May, stepping hurriedly forward. "He did _not_ offer me
marriage! I'll tell you everything. Lord Dymchurch saw me by chance
this morning--Mr. Lashmar and me--saw us together in the park; and he
understood, and spoke to me about it, and said that the only thing he
could do was to tell you I had refused him--"

"Oh, that's it, is it?" broke in the hoarse voice, all but inarticulate
with fury. "Then he too is a liar; that makes one more."

Lashmar stood in bewilderment. He caught May's eye, and saw that he had
nothing but hostility to expect from her.

"_There_ is the greatest of all!" cried the girl, with violent gesture.
"He has told you all about _me_, but has he told you all about himself?"

"Lady Ogram," said Dyce, in a tone of offended dignity, "you should
remember by what means you obtained my confidence. You told me that
Miss Tomalin had already confessed everything to you. I naturally
believed you incapable of falsehood--"

"Being yourself such a man of honour!" Lady Ogram interrupted, with
savage scorn. "Constance, you are the only one who has not told me
lies, and you have been shamefully treated--"

"You think she has told you no lies?" interrupted May, her voice at the
high pitch of exasperation. "Wait a moment. This man has told you that
he came down from London in the train with me; but did he tell you what
he talked about? The first thing he disclosed to me was that the
engagement between him and Miss Bride was a mere pretence. Finding you
wished them to marry, they took counsel together, and plotted to keep
you in good humour by pretending to be engaged. This he told me
himself."

Lady Ogram turned upon Lashmar, who met her