t fear?-The mo

s my barb

-'Oh, no!' sh

stern and co

her numbness in the train, som

married her, and who was to all appearance immersed in the folios of blue foolscap, which he w

ho had, as it were, leaped at a girl, and married her in such hot haste that there was no time for reflection. One argued, one assumed, the strong feeling which made such behaviour credible.

his was

uld come, how much longer she could refrain from comment upon his behaviour. Surely she must be piqued beyond endurance, she who imagined herself to

tation. So far, she had not merely been pliant, she had seemed grateful for kindness. Of course he knew her to be badly frightened. At the Savoy, for a few minutes, under the influence

ile she slept he had perused the features that moved him so vitally-the well remembered breadth of brow and pointedness of chin

to his blue foolscap. Now she was re

ce, and could hardly say why this was so, since in a virile, somewhat rough-hewn fashion, his features were good. She was just saying to herself, "It

hink I am an ideal

e. "That remains to b

one essential condition, don't I? T

is t

ng purse,

ips, how this wounded. She felt that she had nothing to say in reply

u with the amiable weakness which has procur

ness?" she re

hysical comforts, luxury,

don't think-indeed, I'm

old you this morning, I dislike talking in the train. We shal

leaned from the window, and took the tray

d dispensed the bread and butte

She had feared demonstrative display of feeling which as yet she must be unable to reciprocate. His attitude froze her timid efforts to make friends. The remaining words that passed be

will like living

e always lived in the

comment, while a faint

you," was her

ence, she intended to do her duty to the utmost limit of her powers. But he said he did not like talking in the train; and her spirits were so exhausted t

w each moment wilder and more beautiful. They came at last to a pine wood, set among swelling uplands. A lodge gate here flanked

rleigh could be well understood. It was, indeed, a place of shadows. The house stood in the depths of the wood, so far as the side from wh

, and stuffed fish. On its shabby turkey carpet stood an elderly man-servant, a middle-aged parlourmaid, and a grey-haired woman who was presumab

Gaunt, in tones that sounded as if h

lied Mrs. Wells, with an implied despa

and shook hands kindly with Mrs. Wells. "Thank you so much. I am

e man-servant, who murmured, "Namely fifteen," as he glanced at the fair creature standi

r, you had better take Mrs. Gaunt straight upstairs. Hemming, le

g a glance of reluctant admiration as she did so at the pretty frock displayed. The staircase was on the

other side of the house, and the bride stepped forward into the full glory of a sunset, far over land which

e went to one of the windows and gazed out. She thawed a little as she pointed out to t

yanston Square, Grover had laid aside the greater part of her resentment, and was inclined to think that very few of the neigh

s takes their fancy when they get to his age. But with her-well, I don't see how he could help himself! If she was to be had, right he was to snap her

d not lingered over her dressing, and found that there was half an hour yet before the dinner would be served. She stood in the long, bare room, probably last re-furnished

as just enough bedding-out to make a meagre display; but when she thought of the flaming herbaceous flowers which ought to fill those long border edgings, of the Alpine plants which o

t was to be her fate at his hands? The doubt and terror turned her blood to water. She put her two hands to her throat to keep down th

has closed behind you, and you cannot get o

. His manner was that of one grimly jesting. She an

ne glorious fact that I am rich? Nothing else mattered. My negligence, my rudeness, my neglect, could not drive y

u were rich. That is not true. I knew that you were a man of whom my own mother thought so well that she engaged

your marrying me? You thought that you could elude the vigilance of a lame man-was that it? But though I limp

o meet this bullying tone. "A husband should guard his wife, and I hope you will guard me," she re

as you really are! Your outward beauty, upon which you trade, as your mother traded, is nothing to me but a whip, reminding me of the fool I was in my youth. I saw you first, using your lure, casting your net, hoping to secure young Rosenberg as your escape from poverty and debt. You nearly succeeded; you would have succeeded had not your friend belonged to a rac

t her upon her feet. The insulting words stor

o give you love. I mean to keep my promises, without the goad of threats.... If-if I did wrong, in accepting

mething of you yet-perhaps in time. Meanwhile, it is as well to warn you tha

" she replied tremulously.

iness of toil had never touched. He was so convinced of

with no more concern about the cost of her finery than the lilies of the field. The only work that women like you understand is how to s

n spite of that innocent exterior, she was as clever as a pickpocket, as cautious as a Jew. Afterwards I remembered how carefully she had questioned me as to the likelihood of my coming into this property. There was a life between me and it. She was not taking

ntracted about her throat and held her down under water, she might have felt some

"if this-if this is what you think

ar I will control your actions. For the first time in your life, you are going to be disciplined. The starting-point for your training is that you should be completely cut off from your past. Theref

otism. The very atrocity of his amazing tirade helped his wife to ra

myself this morning, by vows which to me are more binding than cords.

y piece of perfection," he replied, "and, when I have br

on in her misery-the consciousness of her own immense height above him. Terror, w

t myself under a great weight of obligation. Now you have paid

ay to me!" he cried, swayed by a

ing. As they stood confronted, the man had a curious experience. Her wonderful likeness to her mother v

ll of the gong in the hall. Gaunt started. He

and hesitated. His wife did not seem to share his embarrassment. With her head held

close observation of the butler, and entered the dining-room, a

d, in the style of

of Gladby Top, and mentioned her own taste for gardening. After a few minutes of moody uncertainty, Gaunt joined in her attempt to keep up