ance, not without a purpose in her mind. She meant to get
rid of the thraldom to which he had subjected her when desiring her not
to waltz, and had done so in part when she obtained his direct sanction
at Lady Brabazon's. No doubt she had felt that as he took liberties as
to his own life, as he received love-letters from an odious woman, he
was less entitled to unqualified obedience than he might have been had
his hands been perfectly clean. There had been a little spirit of
rebellion engendered in her by his misconduct; but she had determined
to do nothing in secret. She had asked his leave to waltz at Lady
Brabazon's, and had herself persuaded him to come to Mrs. Montacute
Jones'. Perhaps she would hardly have dared to do so had she known that
Captain De Baron was to be her partner. While dancing she had been
unaware of her husband's presence, and had not thought of him. When he
had first come to her she had in truth imagined that he had been
frightened by her narrow escape from falling. But when he bade her come
away with that frown on his face, and with that awful voice, then she
knew it all. She had no alternative but to take his arm, and to "come
away." She had not courage enough,--I had better perhaps say impudence
enough,--to pretend to speak to him or to anyone near him with ease.
All eyes were upon her, and she felt them; all tongues would be talking
of her, and she already heard the ill-natured words. Her own husband
had brought all this upon her,--her own husband, whose love-letter from
another woman she had so lately seen, and so readily forgiven! It was
her own husband who had so cruelly, so causelessly subjected her to
shame in public, which could never be washed out or forgotten! And who
would sympathise with her? There was no one now but her father. He
would stand by her; he would be good to her; but her husband by his own
doing had wilfully disgraced her.

Not a word was spoken till they were in the cloak-room, and then Lord
George stalked out to find the brougham, or any cab that might take
them away from the house. Then for the first time the Dean whispered a
word to her. "Say as little as you can to him to-night, but keep up
your courage."

"Oh, papa!"

"I understand it all. I will be with you immediately after breakfast."

"You will not leave me here alone?"

"Certainly not,--nor till you are in your carriage. But listen to what
I am telling you. Say as little as you can till I am with you. Te