to a cab; and as the wheels rattled along the Strand,
he made himself acquainted with the contents of his brief.

Why should Caroline have expressed a wish to see him? That was the
thought that chiefly rested in Bertram's mind when Sir Henry left
him. Why should it be an object to her to force a meeting between her
and him? Would it not be better for them both that they should be far
as the poles asunder?

"Well," he said to himself, "if it be no difficulty to her, neither
shall it be a difficulty to me. She is strong-minded, and I will be
so no less. I will go and meet her. It is but the first plunge that
gives the shock."

And thus he closed his work, and sat moodily thinking. He was angry
with her in that she could endure to see him; but, alas! half-pleased
also that she should wish to do so. He had no thought, no most
distant thought, that she could ever now be more to him than the wife
of an acquaintance whom he did not love too well. But yet there was
in his heart some fragment of half-satisfied vanity at hearing that
she did look forward to see him once again.

And how shall we speak of such a wish on her part? "Caroline," her
husband had said to her at breakfast, "it will be all nonsense
for you and George Bertram to keep up any kind of quarrel. I hate
nonsense of that sort."

"There is no quarrel between us," she replied.

"There ought to be none; and I shall get him to come here."

The colour of her face became slightly heightened as she answered:
"If you wish it, Sir Henry, and he wishes it also, I shall not
object."

"I do wish it, certainly. I think it absolutely necessary as regards
my position with your grandfather."

"Do just as you think best," said his wife. 'Twas thus that Lady
Harcourt had expressed her desire to see George Bertram at her house.
Had he known the truth, that fragment of half-satisfied vanity would
have been but small.

In those early days of her marriage, Lady Harcourt bore her triumphs
very placidly. She showed no great elation at the change that had
come over her life. Her aunt from Hadley was frequently with her, and
wondered to find her so little altered, or rather, in some respects,
so much altered; for she was more considerate in her manner, more
sparing of her speech, much less inclined to domineer now, as
Lady Harcourt, than in former days she had ever been as Caroline
Waddington. She went constantly into society, and was always much
considered; but her triumphs