s.
Dosett. But Mr. Dosett had chosen that the cheque should be sent back
when it was decided that the further transfer should not take place.
The cheque had been sent back, and there had been an end of it. There
must be a morning dress, and there must be another hat, and there
must be boots. So much Mrs. Dosett acknowledged. Let them do what
they might with the old things, Mrs. Dosett acknowledged that so much
as that would at least be necessary. "We will both go to work," Mrs.
Dosett said, "and we will ask your uncle what he can do for us." I
think she felt that she had received some recompense when Ayala
kissed her.

It was after this that Ayala discussed the matter with herself. She
had longed to go once again to Stalham,--"dear Stalham," as she
called it to herself. And as she thought of the place she told
herself that she loved it because Lady Albury had been so kind to
her, and because of Nina, and because of the hunting, and because
of the general pleasantness and luxury of the big comfortable house.
And yes; there was something to be said, too, of the pleasantness of
Colonel Stubbs. Till he had made love to her he had been, perhaps,
of all these fine new friends the pleasantest. How joyous his voice
had sounded to her! How fraught with gratification to her had been
his bright ugly face! How well he had known how to talk to her, and
to make her talk, so that everything had been easy with her! How
thoroughly she remembered all his drollery on that first night at
the party in London,--and all his keen sayings at the theatre;--and
the way he had insisted that she should hunt! She thought of little
confidences she had had with him, almost as though he had been her
brother! And then he had destroyed it all by becoming her lover!

Was he to be her lover still; and if so would it be right that she
should go again to Stalham, knowing that she would meet him there?
Would it be right that she should consent to travel with him,--under
his special escort? Were she to do so would she not be forced to do
more,--if he should again ask her? It was so probable that he would
not ask her again! It was so strange that such a one should have
asked her!

But if he did ask her? Certainly he was not like that Angel of Light
whom she had never seen, but of whom the picture in her imagination
was as clearly drawn as though she were in his presence daily.
No;--there was a wave of hair and a shape of brow, and a peculiarity
of the eye,