k he would buy, him and treat him kindly, for my sake."

"Wouldn't you rather Mr. Vawdrey had him?"

"Yes, if I were free to give him away; but I suppose you would deny my
right of property even in the horse my father gave me."

"Well, as the horse was not specified in your father's will, and as all
his horses and carriages were left to your mother, I think there cannot
be any doubt that Arion is my wife's property."

"Why not say your property? Why give unnatural prominence to a cipher?
Do you think I hold my poor mother to blame for any wrong that is done
to me, or to others, in this house? No, Captain Winstanley, I have no
resentment against my mother. She is a blameless nullity, dressed in
the latest fashion."

"Go and pack your boxes!" cried the Captain angrily. "Do you want to
raise the devil that was raised last night? Do you want another
conflagration? It might be a worse one this time. I have had a night of
fever and unrest."

"Am I to blame for that?'

"Yes--you beautiful fury. It was your image kept me awake. I shall
sleep sounder when you are out of this house."

"I shall be ready to start at ten o'clock," said Vixen, in a
business-like tone which curiously contrasted this sudden gust of
passion on the part of her foe, and humiliated him to the dust. He
loathed himself for having let her see her power to hurt him.

She left him, and went straight upstairs to her room, and gave Phoebe
directions about the packing of her portmanteaux, with no more outward
semblance of emotion than she might have shown had she been starting on
a round of pleasant visits under the happiest circumstances. The
faithful Phoebe began to cry when she heard that Miss Tempest was going
away for a long time, and that she was not to go with her; and poor
Vixen had to console her maid instead of brooding upon her own griefs.

"Never mind, Phoebe," she said; "it is as hard for me to lose you as it
is for you to lose me. I shall never forget what a devoted little thing
you have been, and all the muddy habits you have brushed without a
murmur. A few years hence I shall be my own mistress, and have plenty
of money, and then, wherever I may be, you shall come to me. If you are
married you shall be my housekeeper, and your husband shall be my
butler, and your children shall run wild about the place, and be made
as much of as the litter of young foxes Bates reared in a corner of the
stable-yard, when Mr. Vawdrey was at Eton."

"Oh,