ig of a fellow--so Sophie called him--who had already shown
himself to be Sophie's enemy, and who would certainly find no place for
Sophie Gordeloup within his house. Might it not be well that the quarrel
should be consummated now--such compensation being obtained as might
possibly be extracted. Sophie certainly knew a good deal, which it might
be for the convenience of the future husband to keep dark--or convenient
for the future wife that the future husband should not know. Terms might
be yet had, although Lady Ongar had refused to pay anything beyond that
trumpery twenty pounds. Terms might be had; or, indeed, it might be that
Lady Ongar herself, when her anger was over, might sue for a
reconciliation. Or Sophie--and this idea occurred as Sophie herself
became a little despondent after long calculation--Sophie herself might
acknowledge herself to be wrong, begging pardon, and weeping on her
friend's neck. Perhaps it might be worth while to make some further
calculation in bed. Then Sophie, softly drawing the notes toward her as
a cat might have done, and hiding them somewhere about her person, also
went to her room.

Chapter XXXIV

Vain Repentance

In the morning Lady Ongar prepared herself for starting at eight
o'clock, and, as a part of that preparation, had her breakfast brought
to her upstairs. When the time was up, she descended to the sitting-room
on the way to the carriage, and there she found Sophie, also prepared
for a journey.

"I am going too. You will let me go?" said Sophie.

"Certainly," said Lady Ongar. "I proposed to you to do so yesterday."

"You should not be so hard upon your poor friend," said Sophie. This was
said in the bearing of Lady Ongar's maid and of two waiters, and Lady
Ongar made no reply to it. When they were in the carriage together, the
maid being then stowed away in a dickey or rumble behind, Sophie again
whined and was repentant. "Julie, you should not be so hard upon your
poor Sophie."

"It seems to me that the hardest things said were spoken by you."

"Then I will beg your pardon. I am impulsive. I do not restrain myself.
When I am angry I say I know not what. If I said any words that were
wrong, I will apologize, and beg to be forgiven--there--On my knees."
And, as she spoke, the adroit little woman contrived to get herself down
upon her knees on the floor of the carriage. "There; say that I am
forgiven; say that Sophie is pardoned." The little woman had calcul