never had, and each year you have less. I am, indeed, a
sore trial to you," replied her husband, smiling placidly.

"You are, there can be no question about that," said Lady Margaret,
bitterly.

Noel took his cigar out of his mouth, looked at her calmly for a moment,
and said:

"Then why----"

"Why--Yes, I know what you are going to say, you have said it so
frequently--why did I marry you?" she interrupted.

"You have guessed rightly, my dear; that was just what I was about to
remark."

"I married you because I could not help myself."

"Oh, yes, you could. You might have refused, and I would have gone back
to Canada--would gladly have done so."

"No, Noel," said his wife, rising and standing before him, a rather
terrifying figure; "be at least truthful. You would not have given up
the estate even though it was burdened with an incubus like me."

"Well, well, my dear," said Noel, yawning aggravatingly, "all that is
over. As your poet says, 'Let the dead past bury its dead.'"

"Inexact in small things as well as great," said Lady Margaret, who had
returned to her accounts. "Your poet, you mean, for your quotation is
from Longfellow, and he lived nearer your country than mine."

"Oh! I never remember these fellows' names. I take it for granted you are
right. You always are, my dear. But let us return to prose. Are you going
to Lady Severn's to-night to dinner?"

"Of course I am, and so are you. You know the famous prima donna,
Mademoiselle Laurentia is staying at the Castle, and we shall hear her
sing."

"Who is she? Another of old Lady Severn's _protegees_, I suppose. All her
swans turn out geese. I only hope this one will not be a worse failure
than usual."

"You at least, Noel, ought to be interested in Mademoiselle Laurentia,
for she comes from your part of the world--from the backwoods of Canada."

"Really?" he questioned, with some show of interest at last.

"Yes; and Elsie Severn began to tell me some romantic story about her
which I can't remember, for, just as she was at the most exciting part,
Jones came in and related the account of the arrears in the Mackays'
rent, and that put all Elsie's story out of my head."

"Yes, my dear, you have a faculty of remembering all the disagreeable
things and forgetting all the pleasant ones. This adds much to your
worth as a charming companion. I, who am honored with so much of your
society, fully appreciate this quality."

Fortunately Lady Margaret did