eart-beats of the great humanity of which her little life was so
small a part had been so uncomprehending, that she had cared only for
the narrow issues which concerned herself. But now, in the hour which
saw her free again, she was another woman, and this woman had a
passionate purpose in her heart to make herself avail for the needs
of others.

She resolved that the moment her affairs were settled her new life
should begin. The period of her marriage had opened up before her
vast opportunities, of which she was eager to take advantage. These
would need money for their carrying out, but that she would have
money enough she had never doubted. Of course until the reading of
the will it would not be known what provision had been made for her,
but Lord Hurdly had always been extremely generous as to money, and
she had no misgivings on that score.

At last the funeral was over and the house was rid of guests.
Various cousins and friends had shown their willingness to remain and
bear her company, but Bettina, with the rector's aid, had managed to
get rid of these. She wanted to be alone and to think out some course
of future action, for she was still in a state of absolute
unadjustment to her new situation.

It had turned out that Lord Hurdly had left her an income of one
thousand pounds. Her first realization of the smallness of this
provision for her came from the rector's comment, which was spoken in
a tone as if reluctantly censorious.

"I should not have believed Lord Hurdly capable of such a thing," he
said. "I am sure that all who have cared for his honorable reputation
must regret this as much on his account as on yours."

"Is it so little?" said Bettina, too proud to show disappointment. "A
thousand pounds a year seems a sufficient sum for the support of one
woman."

"For some women, perhaps," was the answer, "but not for the woman who
has once held the position of mistress of Kingdon Hall. I repeat that
I would not have believed it of Lord Hurdly."

Bettina did not hear his last emphatic words, or, at all events,
took no conscious cognizance of them. She was absorbed in the
contemplation of her new condition. How strange it seemed!

It was something more than strange. She had been too long in
possession of the power and importance of being the reigning Lady
Hurdly, so to speak, not to feel a real revolt at the idea of seeing
herself laid on the shelf. It would not necessarily be so bad if she
had had amp