Mr. Darrell!"

"Jasper saw you as your carriage drove from the park gate, not very many
days since. Ah, you change colour! You have wronged that man; repair the
wrong; you have the power!"

"Alas! no," murmured Caroline, "I have not the power."

"Pooh!--he loves you still. You are not one of those whom men forget."

Caroline was silent, but involuntarily she lowered her veil. In an
instant the acute sense of the grim woman detected the truth.

"Ah! Pride--pride in both," she said. "I understand--I dare not blame
him here. But you--you were the injurer; you have no right to pride; you
will see him again."

"No--never--never!" faltered Caroline, with accents scarcely audible
under her veil.

Arabella was silent for a moment, and Lady Montfort rose hastily to
depart.

"You will see him again, I tell you;" and Arabella then following her to
the door:

"Stay; do you think HE will die?"

"Good heavens! Mr. Darrell?"

"No, no--Jasper Losely!"

"I hope not. What does Dr. F. say?"

"He will not tell me. But it is not the paralysis alone; he might
recover from that--so young still. There are other symptoms; that
dreadful habit of stimulants! He sinks if he has them not--they hasten
death if he has. But--but--but--HE IS MINE, AND MINE ONLY, TO THE
GRAVE--NOW!"

CHAPTER XI.

THE CRISIS--PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

Lady Montfort's carriage stopped at Colonel Morley's door just as Carr
Vipont was coming out. Carr, catching sight of her, bustled up to the
carriage window.

"My dear Lady Montfort!--not seen you for an age! What times we live
in! How suddenly THE CRISIS has come upon us! Sad loss in poor dear
Montfort; no wonder you mourn for him! Had his failings, true--who is
not mortal?--but always voted right; always to be relied on in times
of CRISIS! But this crotchety fellow, who has so unluckily, for all but
himself, walked into that property, is the loosest fish! And what is
a House divided against itself? Never was the Constitution in such
peril!--I say it deliberately!--and here is the Head of the Viponts
humming and haaing, and asking whether Guy Darrell will join the
Cabinet. And if Guy Darrell will not, we have no more chance of the
Montfort interest than if we were Peep-o'-day Boys. But excuse me; I
must be off; every moment is precious in times of CRISIS. Think, if we
can't form a Cabinet by to-morrow night--only think what may happen; the
other fellows will come in, and then--THE DELUGE!"

C