Suddenly Lady Sarah bowed to Lord Kilcarney, and the bow said,
'Come hither!' Leaving Olive he approached. A moment after he was
introduced to Violet. Her thin face lit up as if from a light within; a
grey cloud dimmed the light of Mrs. Barton's golden eyes, and when she
saw _Him_ in the vestibule helping the Scullys on with their wraps, she
shuddered as if struck with a blast of icy wind.

XIX

'DUNGORY CASTLE, GORT,
'Co. GALWAY.

'MY DEAREST ALICE,
'I was so delighted to hear from you; it was very good of you to write
to me. I was deeply interested in your description of the Dublin
festivities, and must try and tell you all the news.

'Everybody here is talking of Olive and Lord Kilcarney. It is said that
he proposed to her at the Drawing-Room. Is this true? I hope so, for she
seems to have set her heart on the match. But she is a great deal too
nice for him. They say that when he is in London he does nothing but go
about from bar-room to bar-room drinking brandies and sodas. It is also
said that he used to spend much of his time with actresses. I hope these
stories are false, but I cannot help thinking. . . . Well, we have often
talked over these things, and you know what my opinions of men are. I
hope I am not doing wrong in speaking like this; but a piece of news has
reached me that forces my thoughts back into the old ways--ways that I
know you have often reproved me for letting my mind wander in. In a
word, darling Alice, I hear that you are very much taken up with a Mr.
Harding, a writer, or painter, or something of that sort. Now, will you
promise to write and tell me if this be true? I would sooner know the
worst at once--hear that you love him madly, passionately, as I believe
some women love men. But you, who are so nice, so good, so beautiful,
you could not love a man thus. I cannot think you could--I will not
think you do. I have been crying all the morning, crying bitterly;
horrible thoughts have forced themselves on my mind. I have seen (but it
was not true though it seemed so clear; visions are not always true)
this man kissing you! Oh! Alice, let me warn you, let me beg of you to
think well before you abandon yourself to a man's power, to a man's
love.

'But you, Alice; you who are so noble, so pure, so lofty-minded, you
would not soil yourself by giving way to such a sentiment. Write! you
will