eous that I cannot bear it even from you."

"Is there any mode of expression that you cannot bear?"

"If you want me to leave your house, say it at once."

"Why I have been saying it for the last six months! I have been
saying it almost daily since you were married."

"If so you should have spoken more clearly, for I have not understood
you."

"Heavens and earth," ejaculated Sir Thomas.

"Am I to understand that you wish your child to leave your roof
during this inclement weather in her present delicate condition?"

"Are you in a delicate condition?" asked Sir Thomas. To this Mr.
Traffick could condescend to make no reply. "Because, if not, you, at
any rate, had better go,--unless you find the weather too inclement."

"Of course I shall go," said Mr. Traffick. "No consideration on earth
shall induce me to eat another meal under your roof until you shall
have thought good to have expressed regret for what you have said."

"Then it is very long before I shall have to give you another meal."

"And now what shall I say to Captain Batsby?"

"Tell him from me," said Sir Thomas, "that he cannot possibly set
about his work more injudiciously than by making you his ambassador."
Then Mr. Traffick took his departure.

It may be as well to state here that Mr. Traffick kept his threat
religiously,--at any rate, to the end of the Session. He did not eat
another meal during that period under his father-in-law's roof. But
he slept there for the next two or three days until he had suited
himself with lodgings in the neighbourhood of the House. In doing
this, however, he contrived to get in and out without encountering
Sir Thomas. His wife in her delicate condition,--and because of the
inclemency of the weather,--awaited the occurrence at Queen's Gate.

CHAPTER LIX.

TREGOTHNAN.

The writer, in giving a correct chronicle of the doings of the
Tringle family at this time, has to acknowledge that Gertrude, during
the prolonged absence of Captain Batsby at Brussels,--an absence
that was cruelly prolonged for more than a week,--did make another
little effort in another direction. Her father, in his rough way, had
expressed an opinion that she had changed very much for the worse in
transferring her affections from Mr. Houston to Captain Batsby, and
had almost gone so far as to declare that had she been persistent
with her Houston the money difficulty might have been overcome. This
was imprudent,--unless, indeed, he wa