ody calls it--with
screaming and swearing. If you were within hearing of him, I'm afraid
you might be terrified, and, with the best wish to be useful, I
couldn't guarantee (if the worst happened) to keep him quiet. In your
place, if you will allow me to advise you--"

Iris interrupted him. Instead of confessing the truth, he was
impudently attempting to frighten her. "I don't allow a person in whom
I have no confidence to advise me," she said; "I wish to hear no more."

Mr. Vimpany found it desirable to resume the forms of politeness.
Either he had failed to shake her resolution, or she was sufficiently
in possession of herself to conceal what she felt.

"One last word!" he said. "I won't presume to advise your ladyship; I
will merely offer a suggestion. My lord tells me that Hugh Mountjoy is
on the way to recovery. You are in communication with him by letter, as
I happened to notice when I did you that trifling service of providing
a postage-stamp. Why not go to London and cheer your convalescent
friend? Harry won't mind it--I beg your pardon, I ought to have said
Lord Harry. Come! come! my dear lady; I am a rough fellow, but I mean
well. Take a holiday, and come back to us when my lord writes to say
that he can have the pleasure of receiving you again." He waited for a
moment. "Am I not to be favoured with an answer?" he asked.

"My husband shall answer you."

With those parting words, Iris turned her back on him.

She entered the cottage. Now in one room, and now in another, she
searched for Lord Harry; he was nowhere to be found. Had he purposely
gone out to avoid her? Her own remembrance of Vimpany's language and
Vimpany's manner told her that so it must be--the two men were in
league together. Of all dangers, unknown danger is the most terrible to
contemplate. Lady Harry's last resources of resolution failed her. She
dropped helplessly into a chair.

After an interval--whether it was a long or a short lapse of time she
was unable to decide--someone gently opened the door. Had her husband
felt for her? Had he returned? "Come in! she cried eagerly--" come in!

CHAPTER XLV

FACT: RELATED BY FANNY

THE person who now entered the room was Fanny Mere.

But one interest was stirring in the mind of Iris now. "Do you know
where your master is?" she asked.

"I saw him go out," the maid replied. "Which way I didn't particularly
notice--" She was on the point of adding, "and I didn't particularly
care," whe