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 'And how did he look?'

'I did not see his face.' And then there was silence between them for a few minutes, during which Mrs. Orme stood at the back of Lady Mason's chair with her hand on Lady Mason's shoulder. 'Shall I go now, dear?' said Mrs. Orme.

'No; stay a moment; not yet. Oh, Mrs. Orme!'

'You will ﬁnd that you will be stronger and better able to bear it when it has been done.'

'Stronger! Why should I wish to be stronger? How will he bear it?'

'It will be a blow to him, of course.'

'It will strike him to the ground, Mrs. Orme. I shall have murdered him. I do not think that he will live when he knows that he is so disgraced.'

'He is a man, and will bear it as a man should do. Shall I do anything for you before I go?'

'Stay a moment. Why must it be to-night?'

'He must not be in the court to-morrow. And what difference will one day make? He must know it when the property is given up.'

Then there was a knock at the door, and a girl entered with a decanter, two wine-glasses, and a slice or two of bread and butter. 'You must drink that,' said Mrs. Orme, pouring out a glass of wine.

'And you?'

'Yes, I will take some too. There. I shall be stronger now. Nay, Lady Mason, you shall drink it. And now if you will take my advice you will go to bed.'

'You will come to me again?'

'Yes; directly it is over. Of course I shall come to you. Am I not to stay here all night?'

'But him;—I will not see him. He is not to come.'

'That will be as he pleases.'

'No. You promised that. I cannot see him when he knows what I have done for him.'

'Not to hear him say that he forgives you?'

'He will not forgive me. You do not know him. Could you bear to look at your boy if you had disgraced him for ever?'

'Whatever I might have done he would not desert me. Nor will Lucius desert you. Shall I go now?'

'Ah, me! Would that I were in my grave!'

Then Mrs. Orme bent over her and kissed her, pressed both her hands, then kissed her again, and silently creeping out of the room made her way once more slowly down the stairs.

Mrs. Orme, as will have been seen, was sufficiently anxious to perform the task which she had given herself, but yet her heart