en the
hour was coming on which Sir Hugh was to appear, she thought much of the
manner in which it would become her to receive him. He had condemned her
in that matter as to which any condemnation is an insult to a woman, and
he had so condemned her, being her brother-in-law and her only natural
male friend. In her sorrow she should have been able to lean upon him;
but from the first, without any inquiry, he had believed the worst of
her, and had withdrawn from her altogether his support, when the
slightest support from him would have been invaluable to her. Could she
forgive this? Never! never! She was not a woman to wish to forgive such
an offence. It was an offence which it would be despicable in her to
forgive. Many had offended her, some had injured her, one or two had
insulted her; but, to her thinking, no one had so offended her, had so
injured her, had so grossly insulted her as he had done. In what way,
then, would it become her to receive him?

Before his arrival she had made up her mind on this subject, and had
resolved that she would, at least, say no word of her own wrongs.

"How do you do, Julia?" said Sir Hugh, walking into the room with a step
which was perhaps unnaturally quick, and with his hand extended. Lady
Ongar had thought of that, too. She would give much to escape the touch
of his hand, if it were possible; but she had told herself that she
would best consult her own dignity by declaring no actual quarrel. So
she put out her fingers and just touched his palm.

"I hope Hermy is well?" she said.

"Pretty well, thank you. She is rather lonely since she lost her poor
little boy, and would be very glad if you would go to her."

"I cannot do that, but if she would come to me I should be delighted."

"You see it would not suit her to be in London so soon after Hughy's
death."

"I am not bound to London. I would go anywhere else--except to
Clavering."

"You never go to Ongar Park, I am told."

"I have been there."

"But they say you do not intend to go again."

"Not at present, certainly. Indeed, I do not suppose I shall ever go
there. I do not like the place."

"That's just what they have told me. It is about that--partly--that I
want to speak to you. If you don't like the place, why shouldn't you
sell your interest in it back to the family? They'd give you more than
the value for it."

"I do not know that I should care to sell it."

"Why not, if you don't mean to use the house? I mig