aware that one can do
very little more than launch events upon the great ocean of destiny;
that the pretension to guide and direct them is oftener a snare than
anything else; that the contingencies and accidents, the complications
too, which beset every move in life, disconcert all one's
pre-arrangements, so that it is rare indeed when we are able to pursue
the same path towards any object by which we have set out.

As the scheme was, however, that of another, he now scrutinized it, and
weighed every objection to its accomplishment, constantly returning to
the same difficulty, as he said,--

"You do not know Glencore."

"The man who has but one passion, one impulse in life, is rarely a
difficult study," was the measured reply. "Lord Glencore's vengeance has
worn itself out, exactly as all similar outbreaks of temper do, for want
of opposition. There was nothing to feed, nothing to minister to it. He
sees--I have taken care that he should see--that his bolt has not struck
the mark; that her position is not the precarious thing he meant to
make it, but a station as much protected and fenced round by its own
conventionalities as that of any, the proudest lady in society. For one
that dares to impugn her, there are full fifty ready to condemn _him_;
and all this has been done without reprisal or recrimination; no
partisanship to arraign his moroseness and his cruelty,--none of that
'coterie' defence which divides society into two sections. This, of
course, has wounded his pride, but it has not stimulated his anger; but,
above all, it has imparted to her the advantage of a dignity of which
his vengeance was intended to deprive her."

"You must be a sanguine and a hopeful spirit, Princess, if you deem that
such elements will unite happily hereafter," said Upton, smiling.

"I really never carried my speculations so far," replied she. "It is in
actual life, as in that of the stage, quite sufficient to accompany the
actors to the fall of the curtain."

"The Chevalier Stubber, madame," said a servant, entering, "wishes to
know if you will receive him."

"Yes--no--yes. Tell him to come in," said, she rapidly, as she resumed
her seat beside the fire.

CHAPTER L. ANTE-DINNER REFLECTIONS

Notwithstanding the strongly expressed sentiments of the Princess with
regard to the Chevalier Stubber, she received him with marked favor, and
gave him her hand to kiss, with evident cordiality. As for Upton, it was
the triumph of h