s that he has
brought it on himself by his own act, and is proud of the act which
has done it. But when that excitement has gone, and the trouble still
remains, the pride wears off, and the man is simply alive to his
suffering. So it had been with Ayala. Then had come the visit to
Brook Street. When, soon after that, she was invited to Stalham, it
seemed as though a new world was being opened to her. There came a
moment when she could again rejoice that she had quarrelled with her
Aunt Emmeline. This new world would be a much better world than the
Tringle world. Then had come the great blow, and it had seemed to her
as though there was nothing but Kingsbury Crescent before her for the
rest of her wretched life.

There was not a detail of all this hidden from the eyes of Aunt
Margaret. Stalham had decided that Aunt Margaret was ugly and
uninteresting. Stalham, according to its own views, was right.
Nevertheless the lady in Kingsbury Crescent had both eyes to see and
a heart to feel. She was hot of temper, but she was forgiving. She
liked her own way, but she was affectionate. She considered it right
to teach her niece the unsavoury mysteries of economy, but she was
aware that such mysteries must be distasteful to one brought up as
Ayala. Even when she had been loudest in denouncing Ayala's mutiny,
her heart had melted in ruth because Ayala had been so unhappy.
She, too, had questioned herself again and again as to the justness
of her decision. Was she entitled to rob Ayala of her chances? In
her frequent discussions with her husband she still persisted in
declaring that Kingsbury Crescent was safe, and that Stalham would be
dangerous. But, nevertheless, in her own bosom she had misgivings. As
she saw the poor girl mope and weary through one day after another,
she could not but have misgivings.

"I have had that Lady Albury with me at the office to-day, and have
almost promised that Ayala shall go to her on the 8th of November."
It was thus that Mr. Dosett rushed at once into his difficulty as
soon as he found himself up-stairs with his wife.

"You have?"

"Well, my dear, I almost did. She said a great deal, and I could not
but agree with much of it. Ayala ought to have her chances."

"What chances?" demanded Mrs. Dosett, who did not at all like the
expression.

"Well; seeing people. She never sees anybody here."

"Nobody is better than some people," said Mrs. Dosett, meaning to be
severe on Lady Albury's probab