fuss about
other people."

"What does it matter?" he said, stamping his foot. "What does it /not/
matter? If you have no care for your good name, do you suppose that I
am indifferent to mine?"

Mrs. Quest opened her large violet eyes to the fullest extent, and a
curious light was reflected from them.

"You have grown wonderfully cautious all of a sudden, Edward," she
said meaningly.

"What is the use of my being cautious when you are so reckless? I tell
you what it is, Belle. We are talked of all over this gossiping town,
and I don't like it, and what is more, once and for all, I won't have
it. If you will not be more careful, I will break with you altogether,
and that is the long and short of it."

"Where have you been this morning?" she asked in the same ominously
calm voice.

"I have been to Honham Castle on a matter of business."

"Oh, and yesterday you were there on a matter of pleasure. Now did you
happen to see Ida in the course of your business?"

"Yes," he answered, looking her full in the face, "I did see her, what
about it?"

"By appointment, I suppose."

"No, not by appointment. Have you done your catechism?"

"Yes--and now I am going to preach a homily on it. I see through you
perfectly, Edward. You are getting tired of me, and you want to be rid
of me. I tell you plainly that you are not going the right way to work
about it. No woman, especially if she be in my--unfortunate position,
can tamely bear to see herself discarded for another. Certainly I
cannot--and I caution you--I caution you to be careful, because when I
think of such a thing I am not quite myself," and suddenly, without
the slightest warning (for her face had been hard and cold as stone),
she burst into a flood of tears.

Now Edward Cossey was naturally somewhat moved at this sight. Of
course he did his best to console her, though with no great results,
for she was still sobbing bitterly when suddenly there came a knock at
the door. Mrs. Quest turned her face towards the wall and pretended to
be reading a letter, and he tried to look as unconcerned as possible.

"A telegram for you, sir," said the girl with a sharp glance at her
mistress. "The telegraph boy brought it on here, when he heard that
you were not at home, because he said he would be sure to find you
here--and please, sir, he hopes that you will give him sixpence for
bringing it round, as he thought it might be important."

Edward felt in his pocket and gave th