d have made
life very difficult. He revered her purity; her intellect he esteemed
far subtler and nobler than his own. With such a woman for companion,
he might have done great things; robbed for ever of her beloved
presence, he felt lame, purposeless, indifferent to all but the
irrecoverable past.

In a day or two he was to leave Polterham. Whether Northway would be
satisfied with the result of his machinations remained to be seen; as
yet nothing more had been heard of him. The fellow was perhaps capable
of demanding more hush-money, of threatening the memory of the woman he
had killed. Quarrier hoped more earnestly than ever that the secret
would not be betrayed; he scorned vulgar opinion, so far as it affected
himself, but could not bear the thought of Lilian's grave being defiled
by curiosity and reprobation. The public proceedings had brought to
light nothing whatever that seemed in conflict with medical evidence
and the finding of the coroner's jury. One dangerous witness had
necessarily come forward--Mrs. Wade's servant; but the girl made no
kind of allusion to Northway's visit--didn't, in her own mind, connect
it with Mrs. Quarrier's behaviour. She was merely asked to describe in
what way the unfortunate lady had left the house. In Glazzard and Mrs.
Wade, Denzil of course reposed perfect confidence. Northway, if need
were, could and should be bought off.

Toby Liversedge got wind of the scandal in circulation, and his rage
knew no bounds. Lest his wife should somehow make the discovery, he
felt obliged to speak to her--representing the change in its mildest
form.

"There's a vile story going about that Lilian was jealous of Mrs.
Wade's influence with Denzil; that the two quarrelled that day at the
cottage, and the poor girl drowned herself in despair."

Mary looked shocked, but was silent.

"I suppose," added her husband, "we must be prepared for all sorts of
rumours. The thing is unintelligible to people in general. Any one who
knew her, and saw her those last days, can understand it only too well."

"Yes," murmured Mrs. Liversedge, with sad thought fulness.

She would not speak further on the subject, and Toby concluded that the
mere suggestion gave her offence.

On the day after Denzil departed, leaving by a night train for London.

He was in town for a week, then took a voyage to Madeira, where he
remained until there was only time enough to get back for the opening
of Parliament. The natural plea