think that
I ought not to have gone to the Grange, but indeed I could not help
myself."

"There were other houses," he stammered, not caring to meet her clear
look. "I thought that you would have respected my wishes, but I see I
am mistaken."

"Oh, Hugh," returned the poor child, quite heart-broken at this stern
rebuke; "indeed, indeed, I never meant to disobey you, but my foot was
so painful, and I felt so faint, and Erle was so peremptory with me."

"Well, well, you need not cry about it," observed her husband
impatiently; "you are such a child, Fay, one can never say a word to
you; I have a right to be displeased, if my wife goes against my
wishes."

"I am very sorry," she answered, meekly, trying to keep back those
troublesome tears; "please do not be so angry, Hugh, you know I care
for nothing but to please you, and--and I don't feel quite well, and
your voice is so loud."

"Very well, then, I will take myself off," in rather a huffy tone, but
he relented at the sight of her pale little face, and some of his bad
humor evaporated. "The fact is, you are such a child that you don't
know how to take care of yourself," he continued, sitting down by her,
and letting her rest comfortably against him. "You will do yourself a
mischief some day, Fay. I shall get Doctor Martin to come up and see
your foot, and then, perhaps, he will give you a lecture."

"Oh, no," she returned, charmed at this change of tone, for his anger
had frightened her; "there is no need for that, dear, it is only a
sprained ankle, and Miss Ferrers has bandaged it so beautifully, a day
or two's rest will put it all right."

"But all the same, I should like to have Doctor Martin's opinion," he
answered, quickly. "I am afraid you must have found it very awkward,
Fay, being cast on the compassion of strangers."

"Oh, no, indeed," was the eager answer; "they were so good and kind to
me, Hugh; they welcomed me just as though I were an old friend. I was
a little faint at first, my foot hurt me so; but when I opened my
eyes, I found myself in such a lovely old room, on such an easy couch,
and Miss Ferrers gave me some wine, and actually bathed my foot and
bound it up herself."

"What sort of a room was it, Wee Wifie?"

Fay thought there was something odd in her husband's voice, but she
had her head on his shoulder, and could not see his face, the winter
dusk was creeping over the room, and only the fire-light illumined it.
Hugh felt himself safe