m, though he was much
relieved. Life became for the moment a more commonplace affair
altogether. He was free from the annoyance. It mattered nothing to him
now who she married--the best _parti_ in society, or Jock's tutor, or
anybody the girl pleased. If it had not been for that exhibition of
feeling Sir Tom would probably have said to himself, satirically, that
there could be little doubt which the Contessa's ward and pupil would
choose. But after that little scene he came out very much shaken,
touched to the heart, thinking that perhaps life would have been more
full and sweet had his apprehensions been true. She had been overcome by
the united pressure of himself and the Contessa, and for the moment
subdued, though the fire in her eye and swelling of her young bosom
seemed to say that the victory was very incomplete. He would have liked
the little one that died to have looked like that, and felt like that,
had she lived to grow a woman like Bice. Great heaven, the little one
that died! The words as they went through his mind sent a chill to Sir
Tom's breast. Might it be that they would be said again--once more--and
that far-back sin bring thus a punishment all the more bitter for being
so long delayed. Human nature will never get to believe that God is not
lying in wait somewhere to exact payment of every account.

"She understands that," said Jock suddenly. "She don't know the meaning
of other things."

"What may be the other things?" said Sir Tom, feeling a half jealousy of
anything that could be said to Bice's disadvantage. "I don't think she
is wanting in understanding. Ah, I see. You don't know how any one could
resist the influence of MTutor, Jock."

Through the darkness under the feeble lamp Jock shot a glance at his
elder of that immeasurable contempt which youth feels for the absence of
all penetration shown by its seniors, and their limited powers of
observation. But he said nothing. Perhaps he could not trust himself to
speak.

"Don't think I'm a scoffer, my boy," said Sir Tom. "MTutor's a very
decent fellow. Let us go and look him up. He would be better, to my
thinking, if he were not quite so fine, you know. But that's a trifle,
and I'm an old fogey. You are not going back to Park Lane to-night."

"After what you heard her say? Do you think I've got no heart either? If
I could have it instead of him!"

"But you can't, my boy," Sir Tom said with a pressure of Jock's arm.
"And you must not make Lucy