s beginning to hate Caroline almost as much as she hated him. A
man does not like to be told by a beautiful woman that every hair of
his head is odious to her, while the very footsteps of another are
music in her ears. Perhaps it does not mend the matter when the hated
man is the husband.

But still Sir Henry wished to keep his wife. It has been quite clear
that Caroline had thrown up her game. She had flattered herself
that she could play it; but the very moment the cards went against
her, she discovered her own weakness and threw them away. Sir Henry
was of a stronger mind, and not so easily disgusted: he would try
yet another deal. Indeed, his stakes were too high to allow of his
abandoning them.

So arousing himself with some exertion, he dressed himself, went out
to dine, hurried down to the House, and before the evening was over
was again the happy, fortunate solicitor-general, fortune's pet, the
Crichton of the hour, the rising man of his day.

CHAPTER VII.

THE RETURN TO HADLEY.

We must now return for awhile to Hadley. Since the day on which Miss
Baker had written that letter to Sir Lionel, she had expressed no
wish to leave her uncle's house. Littlebath had no charms for her
now. The colonel was still there, and so was the colonel's first
love--Miss Todd: let them forgive and forget, and marry each other
at last if they so pleased. Miss Baker's fit of ambition was over,
and she was content to keep her uncle's house at Hadley, and to see
Caroline whenever she could spare a day and get up to London for that
purpose.

And the old gentleman was less bearish than she thought he would have
been. He occasionally became rusty about shillings and sixpences,
and scolded because his niece would have a second fire lighted; but
by degrees he forgot even this grievance, and did not make himself
more disagreeable or exacting than old age, wealth, and suffering
generally are when they come together.

And then when Adela left London, Miss Baker was allowed to ask her to
stop with them at Hadley--and Adela did as she was asked. She went
direct from Eaton Square to Mr. Bertram's house; and was still there
at the time alluded to in the last chapter.

It was on the second morning after Sir Henry's visit to his wife that
the postman brought to Miss Baker a letter from Lady Harcourt. The
two ladies were sitting at the time over the breakfast-table, and old
Mr. Bertram, propped up with pillows, with his crutches cl