mmond left her she remained lost in a reverie,
deeply affected by the speech and manner of her granddaughter's lover,
as he gave her that first kiss of duty and affection, the affection of
one who in that act declared the allegiance of a close and holy bond.

Yes, she told herself, this marriage, humble as it might be, was
altogether satisfactory. Her own feeling towards the man of her
granddaughter's choice was one of instinctive affection. Her heart had
yearned to him from the beginning of their acquaintance; but she had
schooled herself to hide all indications of her liking for him, she had
made every effort to keep him at a distance, deeming his very merits a
source of danger in a household where there were two fresh
impressionable girls.

And despite all her caution and care he had succeeded in winning one of
those girls: and she was glad, very glad, that he had so succeeded in
baffling her prudence. And now it was agreeable to discover that he was
not quite such a pauper as she had supposed him to be.

Her heart felt lighter than it had been for some time when she set about
planning the wedding.

The first step in the business was to send for James Steadman. He came
immediately, grave and quiet as of old, and stood with his serious eyes
bent upon the face of his mistress, awaiting her instructions.

'Lady Mary is going to be married to Mr. Hammond, by special licence, in
this room, to-morrow afternoon, if it can be managed so soon,' said Lady
Maulevrier.

'I am very glad to hear it, my lady,' answered Steadman, without the
faintest indication of surprise.

'Why are you so--particularly glad?' asked his mistress, looking at him
sharply.

'Because Lady Mary's presence in this house is a source of danger
to--your arrangements. She is very energetic and enterprising--very
shrewd--and--well, she is a woman--so I suppose there can be no harm in
saying she is somewhat inquisitive. Things will be much safer here when
Lady Mary is gone!'

'But she will not be gone--she is not going away--except for a very
brief honeymoon. I cannot possibly do without her. She has become
necessary to my life, Steadman; and there is so little left of that life
now, that there is no need for me to sacrifice the last gleams of
sunshine. The girl is very sweet, and loving, and true. I was not half
fond enough of her in the past; but she has made herself very dear to me
of late. There are many things in this life, Steadman, which we o