n thrown on her hands,
to be the stock subject for all the righteous tongues. Besides,' as she
coughed, 'the English climate would make an end of me outright. I'm in
a bad way enough here, where I can sit among the lemon trees half the
days in the winter, but the English fireside in a stuffy parlour--' and
she shuddered.

That shiver reminded all that it was getting late, too late for Mrs.
Houghton to be out of doors, and near the time when Mr. Egremont was to
meet his ladies at the hotel. Alice begged for Mrs. Houghton's
address, and it was given with a short ironical laugh at her promise to
call again if possible. 'Ay, if possible,' the poor woman repeated.
'I understand! No, no,' as Alice was about to kiss her. 'I won't have
it done.'

'There's no one in sight.'

'As if that made a difference! Alice, child, you are as innocent as
the little dove that flew aboard the Ninon. How have you done it? Get
along with you! No kisses to such as me! I don't know whether it
breaks my heart, or binds it up to look at the face of you. Anyway, I
can't bear it.'

She hurried away, and made some steps from them. A terrible paroxysm
of coughing came on, and Mrs. Egremont hurried towards her, but she
waved back all help, shook her head, and insisted on going home. Alice
kept her in sight, till she dived into a small side street.

'Mother,' said Nuttie. Then there was a pause. 'Mother, did you know
all this?'

'Don't talk of it, Nuttie. It is not a thing to be talked about to any
one or by any one. I wish you had not been there.'

'But, mother, this once! Did you know?'

'I knew that I knew not what I did when I went on board that yacht, but
that God's kind providence was over me in a way that I little deserved.
That is all I care to know, and, Ursula, I will have not another word
about it. No, I will not hear it.'

'I was only going to ask whether you would tell my father.'

'Certainly; but not before you.'

The tone of decision was unwonted, and Nuttie knew she must abide by
it, but the last shreds of filial respect towards Mr. Egremont were
torn away by what Mrs. Houghton had implied, and the girl dashed up and
down her bedroom muttering to herself, 'Oh, why have I such a father?
And she, she will not see it, she is wilfully blind! Why not break
with him and go home to dear Aunt Ursel and Gerard and Mr. Dutton at
once, instead of this horrid, horrid grandeur? Oh, if I could fling
all these fine things