." In uttering that last word
she managed to use a tone of voice which did make an impression on him.
"I never can, under any circumstances, become your wife. You might as
well look upon that as altogether decided, because it will save us both
annoyance."

"You needn't be so sure yet, Julia."

"Yes, I must be sure. And unless you will promise to drop the matter, I
must--to protect myself--desire my servants not to admit you into the
house again. I shall be sorry to do that, and I think you will save me
from the necessity."

He did save her from that necessity, and before he went he gave her the
required promise. "That's well," said she, tendering him her hand; "and
now we shall part friends."

"I shall like to be friends," said he, in a crestfallen voice, and with
that he took his leave. It was a great comfort to him that he had the
scheme of Jack Stuart's yacht and the trip to Norway for his immediate
consolation.

Chapter XLIV

What Lady Ongar Thought About It

Mrs. Burton, it may perhaps be remembered, had formed in her heart a
scheme of her own--a scheme of which she thought with much trepidation,
and in which she could not request her husband's assistance, knowing
well that he would not only not assist it, but that he would altogether
disapprove of it. But yet she could not put it aside from her thoughts,
believing that it might be the means of bringing Harry Clavering and
Florence together. Her husband had now thoroughly condemned poor Harry,
and passed sentence against him; not, indeed, openly to Florence
herself; but very often in the hearing of his wife. Cecilia, womanlike,
was more angry with circumstances than with the offending man--with
circumstances and with the woman who stood in Florence's way. She was
perfectly willing to forgive Harry, if Harry could only be made to go
right at last. He was good-looking and pleasant, and had nice ways in a
house, and was altogether too valuable as a lover to be lost without
many struggles. So she kept to her scheme, and at last she carried it
into execution.

She started alone from her house one morning, and, getting into an
omnibus at Brompton, had herself put down on the rising ground in
Piccadilly, opposite to the Green Park. Why she had hesitated to tell
the omnibus-man to stop at Bolton Street can hardly be explained; but
she had felt that there would be almost a declaration of guilt in naming
that locality. So she got out on the little hill,