will, with your leave, walk clown and look at the proposed site. Only do say that you forgive me."
"Forgive you, Cousin George, oh yes. One word only—it is true you were a child still when I fancied I was a woman, and you have a right to talk to me upon all things, except those that relate to me and Lord Montfort; unless, indeed," she added, with a bewitching half laugh, " unless you ever see cause to scold me, there. Good-by, my cousin, and in turn forgive me, if I was so petulant. The Caroline you pelted with snow-balls was always a wayward, impulsive creature, quick to take offence, to misunderstand, and—to repent."
Back into the broad, broad gravel-walk, walked, more slowly than before. Lady Montfort. Again the sixty ghastly windows stared at her with all their eyes—back from the gravel-walk, through a side-door, into the pompous solitude of the stately house—across long chambers, where the mirrors reflected her form, and the huge chairs, in their flaunting damask and flaring gold, stood stiff on desolate floors—into her own private room—neither large nor splendid that; plain chintzes, quiet bookshelves. She need not have been the Marchioness of Montfort to inhabit a room as pleasant and as luxurious. And the rooms that she could only have owned as Marchioness, what were those worth to her happiness? I know not. "Nothing," fine ladies will perhaps answer. Yet those same fine ladies will contrive to dispose their daughters to answer, "All." In her own room Lady Montfort sunk on her chair; wearily;—wearily she looked at the clock—wearily at the books on the shelves—at the harp near the window. Then she leaned her face on her hand, and that face was so sad, and so humbly sad, that you would have wondered how any one could call Lady Montfort proud.
"Treasure! I—I!—worthless, fickle, credulous fool!—I—I!"
The groom of the chambers entered with the letters by the afternoon post. That Great House contrived to worry itself with two posts a day. A royal command to Windsor—
"I shall be more alone in a court than here," murmured Lady Montfort.
