d yielded to it. At that moment she
absolutely pitied Anne!

"Poor creature!" said Lady Holchester.

He took instant offense at those two words. "I won't have my wife pitied
by any body." With that reply, he dashed into the passage; and called
out, "Anne! come down!"

Her soft voice answered; her light footfall was heard on the stairs. She
came into the room. Julius advanced, took her hand, and held it kindly
in his. "We are having a little family discussion," he said, trying to
give her confidence. "And Geoffrey is getting hot over it, as usual."

Geoffrey appealed sternly to his mother.

"Look at her!" he said. "Is she starved? Is she in rags? Is she covered
with bruises?" He turned to Anne. "They have come here to propose a
separation. They both believe I hate you. I don't hate you. I'm a good
Christian. I owe it to you that I'm cut out of my father's will. I
forgive you that. I owe it to you that I've lost the chance of marrying
a woman with ten thousand a year. I forgive you _that._ I'm not a man
who does things by halves. I said it should be my endeavor to make you a
good husband. I said it was my wish to make it up. Well! I am as good
as my word. And what's the consequence? I am insulted. My mother comes
here, and my brother comes here--and they offer me money to part from
you. Money be hanged! I'll be beholden to nobody. I'll get my own
living. Shame on the people who interfere between man and wife!
Shame!--that's what I say--shame!"

Anne looked, for an explanation, from her husband to her husband's
mother.

"Have you proposed a separation between us?" she asked.

"Yes--on terms of the utmost advantage to my son; arranged with every
possible consideration toward you. Is there any objection on your side?"

"Oh, Lady Holchester! is it necessary to ask me? What does he say?"

"He has refused."

"Refused!"

"Yes," said Geoffrey. "I don't go back from my word; I stick to what I
said this morning. It's my endeavor to make you a good husband. It's
my wish to make it up." He paused, and then added his last reason: "I'm
fond of you."

Their eyes met as he said it to her. Julius felt Anne's hand suddenly
tighten round his. The desperate grasp of the frail cold fingers, the
imploring terror in the gentle sensitive face as it slowly turned his
way, said to him as if in words, "Don't leave me friendless to-night!"

"If you both stop here till domesday," said Geoffrey, "you'll get
nothing more out of me. Yo