live. I shall
have no shoulder on which to lean, hear no words of love when I am
sick, have no child to comfort me. I shall be alone, and yet not
master of myself. This I must bear because I was false to my own
heart. But yet he is not my husband. Listen to me, Adela; sooner than
return to him again, I would put an end to all this world's misery at
once. That would be sinful, but the sin would be lighter than that
other sin."

When she spoke in this way, Adela no longer dared to suggest to her
that she and Sir Henry might even yet again live together. In Adela's
own mind, that course, and that alone, would have been the right one.
She looked on such unions as being literally for better or for worse;
and failing to reach the better, she would have done her best, with
God's assistance, to bear the worst. But then Adela Gauntlet could
never have placed herself in the position which Lady Harcourt now
filled.

But greatly as they differed, still there was confidence between
them. Caroline could talk to her, and to her only. To her grandfather
she was all submission; to her aunt she was gentle and affectionate;
but she never spoke of her fate with either of them. And so they went
on till Adela left them in July; and then the three that were left
behind lived together as quiet a household as might have been found
in the parish of Hadley, or perhaps in the county of Middlesex.

During this time Lady Harcourt had received two letters from her
husband, in both of which he urged her to return to him. In answer to
the first, she assured him, in the civilest words which she knew how
to use, that such a step was impossible; but, at the same time, she
signified her willingness to obey him in any other particular, and
suggested that as they must live apart, her present home with her
grandfather would probably be thought to be the one most suitable for
her. In answer to the second, she had simply told him that she must
decline any further correspondence with him as to the possibility of
her return.

His next letter was addressed to Mr. Bertram. In this he did not go
into the matter of their difference at all, but merely suggested that
he should be allowed to call at Hadley--with the object of having an
interview with Mr. Bertram himself.

"There," said the old man, when he found himself alone with his
granddaughter; "read that." And Caroline did read it. "What am I to
say to that?"

"What do you think you ought to say, sir?"