ce Julia married. I don't see that it
will make much difference to her. He's never with her when he's in
England, and I should think she must be more comfortable without him
than with him."

"It's a great catch for Archie," said Harry.

"Archie Clavering is a fool," said Mrs. Clavering.

"They say he understands a yacht," said the rector, who then left the
room.

The rector's news was all true. Sir Hugh Clavering had come down to the
Park, and had announced his intention of going to Norway in Jack
Stuart's yacht. Archie also had been invited to join the party. Sir Hugh
intended to leave the Thames in about a week, and had not thought it
necessary to give his wife any intimation of the fact, till he told her
himself of his intention. He took, I think, a delight in being thus
overharsh in his harshness to her. He proved to himself thus not only
that he was master, but that he would be master without any let or
drawback, without compunction, and even without excuses for his
ill-conduct. There should be no plea put in by him in his absences, that
he had only gone to catch a few fish, when his intentions had been other
than piscatorial. He intended to do as he liked now and always-and he
intended that his wife should know that such was his intention. She was
now childless, and, therefore, he had no other terms to keep with her
than those which appertained to her necessities for bed and board. There
was the house, and she might live in it; and there were the butchers and
the bakers, and other tradesmen to supply her wants. Nay; there were the
old carriage and the old horses at her disposal, if they could be of any
service to her. Such were Sir Hugh Clavering's ideas as to the bonds
inflicted upon him by his marriage vows.

"I'm going to Norway next week" It was thus Sir Hugh communicated his
intention to his wife within five minutes of their first greeting.

"To Norway, Hugh?"

"Yes; why not to Norway? I and one or two others have got some fishing
there. Archie is going, too. It will keep him from spending his money;
or rather from spending money which isn't his."

"And for how long will you be gone?"

It was part of Sir Hugh Clavering's theory as to these matters
that-there should be no lying in the conduct of them. He would not
condescend to screen any part of his doings by a falsehood--so he
answered this question with exact truth.

"I don't suppose we shall be back before October."

"Not before October?"