t occurs to me that that would
have been a cruel thing to do, and most unfair to Mr.
Tregear, who was quite willing to go to papa, and had only
put off doing so because of poor mamma's death. As I had
told mamma, of course it was right that he should tell
papa. Then I told you, because you were so kind to me! I
am so sorry that I have got you into this trouble; but
what can I do?

I told him I must write to you. I suppose it is better
that I should, although what I have to say is so
unpleasant. I hope it will all blow over in time,
because I love you dearly. You may be quite sure of one
thing,--that I shall never change. [In this assurance the
writer was alluding not to her friendship for her friend
but her love for her lover,--and so the friend understood
her.] I hope things will be settled some day, and then we
may be able to meet.

Your very affectionate Friend,

MARY PALLISER.

Mrs. Finn, when she received this, was alone in her house in Park
Lane. Her husband was down in the North of England. On this subject
she had not spoken to him, fearing that he would feel himself bound
to take some steps to support his wife under the treatment she had
received. Even though she must quarrel with the Duke, she was most
anxious that her husband should not be compelled to do so. Their
connection had been political rather than personal. There were many
reasons why there should be no open cause of disruption between them.
But her husband was hot-headed, and, were all this to be told him and
that letter shown to him which the Duke had written, there would be
words between him and the Duke which would probably make impossible
any further connection between them.

It troubled her very much. She was by no means not alive to the
honour of the Duke's friendship. Throughout her intimacy with the
Duchess she had abstained from pressing herself on him, not because
she had been indifferent about him, but that she had perceived that
she might make her way with him better by standing aloof than by
thrusting herself forward. And she had known that she had been
successful. She could tell herself with pride that her conduct
towards him had been always such as would become a lady of high
spirit and fine feeling. She knew that she had deserved well of him,
that in all her intercourse with him, with his uncle, and with his
wife, she had given much and had taken little. She was the last