n outraged.

"Sir," she said, in a clear not to say a high voice, "asking your
pardon, sir, but am I, or am I not, to take my orders from--"

Goaded to frenzy, Dare poured forth a volley of horrible oaths French
and English, and, seizing up the reins, drove off at a furious rate.

The servants remained standing about the steps, watching the dog-cart
whirl rapidly away.

"He's been to church with her," said the gardener, at last. "I said all
along she'd never have come, unless she had her lines to show. I ha'n't
cut them white grapes she ordered yet; but I may as well go and do it."

"Well," said Mrs. Smith, "grapes or no grapes, I'll never give up the
keys of the linen cupboards to the likes of her, and I'm not going to
have any one poking about among my china. I've not been here twenty
years to be asked for my lists in that way, and the winter curtains
ordered out unbeknownst to me;" and Mrs. Smith retreated to the
fastnesses of the house-keeper's room, whither even the audacious enemy
had not yet ventured to follow her.

Meanwhile, Mr. Alwynn and Dare drove at moderated speed along the road
to Slumberleigh. For some time neither spoke.

"I beg your pardon," said Dare at last. "I lost my head. I became
enraged. Before a clergyman and a lady, I know well, it is not permitted
to swear."

"I can overlook that," said Mr. Alwynn; "but," turning very red again,
"other things I can't."

Dare began to flourish his whip, and become excited again.

"I will tell you all," he said with effusion--"every word. You have a
kind heart. I will confide in you."

"I don't want confidences," said Mr. Alwynn. "I want straight-forward
answers to a few simple questions."

"I will give them, these answers. I keep nothing back from a friend."

"Then, first. Did you marry that woman?"

"Yes," said Dare, shrugging his shoulders. "I married her, and often
afterwards, almost at once, I regretted it; but _que voulez-vous_, I was
young. I had no experience. I was but twenty-one."

Mr. Alwynn stared at him in astonishment at the ease with which the
admission was made.

"How long afterwards was it that you were divorced from her?"

"Two years. Two long years."

"For what reason?"

"Temper. Ah! what a temper. Also because I left her for one year. It was
in Kansas, and in Kansas it is very easy to marry, and also to be
divorced."

"It is a disgraceful story," said Mr. Alwynn, in great indignation.

"Disgraceful!" echoed Dare, e