In
Ashe's own contest, her sallies and indiscretions had already begun to
do mischief when Lady Tranmore had succeeded in enticing her to London
by the bait of a French <i>clairvoyante</i>, with whom Kitty nightly tempted
the gods who keep watch over the secrets of fate--till William's poll
had been declared.

All this was deplorably true. And yet no one could say that Kitty in
this checkered year had done her husband much harm. Ashe was no longer
her blind slave; and his career had carried him to heights with which
even his mother might have been satisfied. Sometimes Margaret was
inclined to think that Kitty had now less influence with him and his
mother more than was the just due of each. She--the younger woman--felt
the tragedy of Ashe's new and growing emancipation. Secretly--often--she
sided with Kitty!

* * * * *

"Margaret!"

The voice was Kitty's. She came running out, her pale-pink skirts flying
round her. "Have you seen the babe?"

Margaret replied that he and his nurse were just in sight.

Kitty fled over the lawn to meet the child's perambulator. She lifted
him out, and carried him in her arms towards Margaret and Lady Tranmore.

"Isn't it piteous?" said Margaret, under her breath, as the mother and
child approached. Lady Tranmore gave her a sad, assenting look.

For during the last six months the child had shown signs of brain
mischief--a curious apathy, broken now and then by fits of temper. The
doctors were not encouraging. And Kitty varied between the most
passionate attempts to rouse the child's failing intelligence and
days--even weeks--when she could hardly bring herself to see him at all.

She brought him now to a seat beside Lady Tranmore. She had been trying
to make him take notice of a new toy. But the child looked at her with
blank and glassy eyes, and the toy fell from his hand.

"He hardly knows me," said Kitty, in a low voice of misery, as she
clasped her hands round the baby of three, and looked into his face, as
though she would drag from it some sign of mind and recognition.

But the blue eyes betrayed no glimmer of response, till suddenly, with a
gesture as of infinite fatigue, the child threw itself back against her,
laying its fair head upon her breast with a long sigh.

Kitty gave a sob, and bent over him, kissing--and kissing him.

"Dear Kitty!" said Lady Tranmore, much moved. "I think--partly--he is
tired with the heat."

Kitty shook he