ner parties followed by cards in the evening. He had developed the
gambling passion--or else a mere card mania--but at any rate he played
heavily, for relaxation, with a lot of dubious hangers on.

Meantime Mrs. de Barral, expecting him every day, lived at the Priory,
with a carriage and pair, a governess for the child and many servants.
The village people would see her through the railings wandering under the
trees with her little girl lost in her strange surroundings. Nobody ever
came near her. And there she died as some faithful and delicate animals
die--from neglect, absolutely from neglect, rather unexpectedly and
without any fuss. The village was sorry for her because, though
obviously worried about something, she was good to the poor and was
always ready for a chat with any of the humble folks. Of course they
knew that she wasn't a lady--not what you would call a real lady. And
even her acquaintance with Miss Anthony was only a cottage-door, a
village-street acquaintance. Carleon Anthony was a tremendous aristocrat
(his father had been a "restoring" architect) and his daughter was not
allowed to associate with anyone but the county young ladies.
Nevertheless in defiance of the poet's wrathful concern for undefiled
refinement there were some quiet, melancholy strolls to and fro in the
great avenue of chestnuts leading to the park-gate, during which Mrs. de
Barral came to call Miss Anthony 'my dear'--and even 'my poor dear.' The
lonely soul had no one to talk to but that not very happy girl. The
governess despised her. The housekeeper was distant in her manner.
Moreover Mrs. de Barral was no foolish gossiping woman. But she made
some confidences to Miss Anthony. Such wealth was a terrific thing to
have thrust upon one she affirmed. Once she went so far as to confess
that she was dying with anxiety. Mr. de Barral (so she referred to him)
had been an excellent husband and an exemplary father but "you see my
dear I have had a great experience of him. I am sure he won't know what
to do with all that money people are giving to him to take care of for
them. He's as likely as not to do something rash. When he comes here I
must have a good long serious talk with him, like the talks we often used
to have together in the good old times of our life." And then one day a
cry of anguish was wrung from her: 'My dear, he will never come here, he
will never, never come!'

She was wrong. He came to the funeral, wa