she carried as though
she knew herself to be in very truth a countess. It was a face which
bore well such signs of age as those which had come upon it. She seemed
to be a woman fitter for womanhood than for girlhood. Her eyes were
brighter than of yore, and, as Harry thought, larger; and her high
forehead and noble stamp of countenance seemed fitted for the dress and
headgear which she wore.

"I have been expecting you," said she, stepping up to him. "Hermione
wrote me word that you were to come up on Monday. Why did you not come
sooner?" There was a smile on her face as she spoke, and a confidence in
her tone which almost confounded him.

"I have had so many things to do," said he lamely.

"About your new profession. Yes, I can understand that. And so you are
settled in London now? Where are you living--that is, if you are settled
yet?" In answer to this, Harry told her he had taken lodgings in
Bloomsbury Square, blushing somewhat as he named so unfashionable a
locality. Old Mrs. Burton had recommended him to the house in which he
was located, but he did not find it necessary to explain that fact to
Lady Ongar.

"I have to thank you for what you did for me," continued she. "You ran
away from me in such a hurry on that night that I was unable to speak to
you. But to tell the truth, Harry, I was in no mood then to speak to any
one. Of course you thought that I treated you ill."

"Oh, no," said he.

"Of course you did. If I thought you did not, I should be angry with you
now. But had it been to save my life I could not have helped it. Why did
not Sir Hugh Clavering come to meet me? Why did not my sister's husband
come to me?" To this question Harry could make no answer. He was still
standing with his hat in his hand, and now turned his face away from her
and shook his head.

"Sit down, Harry," said she, "and let me talk to you like a
friend--unless you are in a hurry to go away."

"Oh, no," said he, seating himself.

"Or unless you, too, are afraid of me."

"Afraid of you, Lady Ongar?"

"Yes, afraid; but I don't mean you. I don't believe that you are coward
enough to desert a woman who was once your friend because misfortune has
overtaken her, and calumny has been at work with her name."

"I hope not," said he.

"No, Harry; I do not think it of you. But if Sir Hugh be not a coward,
why did he not come and meet me? Why has he left me to stand alone, now
that he could be of service to me? I knew that money