tly some misapprehension on that point," he observed,
"which I am here to remove. Mr. Dare is at present unmarried."

"I am his wife," reiterated the woman, her color rising under her rouge.
"I am, and I won't go. He dared not come himself, a poor coward that he
is, to turn his wife out-of-doors. He sent you; but it's no manner of
use, so you may as well know it first as last. I tell you nothing shall
induce me to stir from this house, from my home, and you needn't think
you can come it over me with fine talk. I don't care a red cent what you
say. I'll have my rights."

"I am here," said Charles, "to see that you get them, Mrs.--_Carroll_."

There was a pause. He did not look at her. He was occupied in taking a
white thread off his coat.

"Carroll's dead," she said, sharply.

"He is. And your regret at his loss was no doubt deepened by the unhappy
circumstances in which it took place. He died in jail."

"Well, and if he did--"

"Died," continued Charles, suddenly fixing his keen glance upon her,
"nearly a year after your so-called marriage with Mr. Dare."

"It's a lie," she said, faintly; but she had turned very white.

"No, I _think_ not. My information is on reliable authority. A slight
exertion of memory on your part will no doubt recall the date of your
bereavement."

"You can't prove it."

"Excuse me. You have yourself kindly furnished us with a copy of the
marriage register, with the date attached, without which I must own we
might have been momentarily at a loss. I need now only apply for a copy
of the register of the decease of Jasper Carroll, who, as you do not
deny, died under personal restraint in jail; in Baton Rouge Jail in
Louisiana, I have no doubt you intended to add."

She glared at him in silence.

"Some dates acquire a peculiar interest when compared," continued
Charles, "but I will not detain you any longer with business details of
this kind, as I have no doubt that you will wish to superintend your
packing."

"I won't go."

"On the contrary, you will leave this house in half an hour. The
dog-cart is ordered to take you to the station."

"What if I refuse to go?"

"Extreme measures are always to be regretted, especially with a lady,"
said Charles. "Nothing, in short, would be more repugnant to me; but I
fear, as a magistrate, it would be my duty to--" And he shrugged his
shoulders, wondering what on earth could be done for the moment if she
persisted. "But," he continued, "motiv