want you to-night," she said to
the coachman. "Come!"

She led the way, and Mannering followed. As the maid closed the door
behind them Mannering felt his breath quicken--his sense of depression
grew stronger. He seemed threatened by some new and intangible danger. He
stood on the hearthrug while she bent over the switch and turned on the
electric light in the sitting-room. Then she threw off her cloak and
looked at him curiously for a moment. Her face softened.

"My dear Lawrence," she said, "has politics done this, or are you ill?"

"I am quite well," he answered. "A little tired, perhaps. I have had
rather a trying day."

She rang the bell, and ordered sandwiches and wine.

"You look like a corpse," she said, and stood over him while he ate and
drank. And all the time that indefinable fear within him grew. She made
him smoke. Then she leaned back in an easy-chair and looked across at
him.

"You had something to say to me. What was it?"

"Nothing good," he answered. "I have quarrelled with my party, and I have
to resign my seat in the House."

"Already?"

"Already! I am sorry, as of course in a few months' time I should have
been in office, and drawing a considerable salary. As it is--" he
hesitated.

"Oh, I understand!" she said. "Well, it doesn't matter much. I only have
the house for six months furnished, and that's paid for in advance. John
must go, and the horses can be sold."

He looked at her in amazement. Only a few months ago she had talked very
differently.

"I--I am not sure whether all that will be necessary," he said. "I can
find a tenant for Blakely, and I daresay I can manage another hundred a
year or so. Only, of course, the large increase we had thought of will
not be possible now."

"No, I suppose not," she answered, idly.

He moved in his chair uncomfortably. He found her wholly
incomprehensible.

"What a beast I must have seemed to you always," she exclaimed, suddenly.

"Why?" he asked, pointlessly.

"I've sponged on you all my life, and you're not a rich man, are you,
Lawrence? Then I dragged you into politics to supply me with the means to
spend more money. My claim on you was one of sentiment only, but--I've
made you pay. No wonder you hate me!"

"Your claim on me, even to every penny I possess," Mannering answered,
"was a perfectly just one. I have never denied it, and I have done my
best. And as to hating you, you know quite well it is not true!"

"Ah!" She rose sudd