I always do my hair so."

"Don't be offended. I like it. But you must not make a fool of
yourself. Your hair is too much that of a country beauty going to a
ball. Paterson will show you how to do your hair."

"Oh, I say, aunt," cried Lavender with a fine show of carelessness,
"you mustn't go and spoil her hair. I think it is very pretty as it
is, and that woman of yours would simply go and make a mop of it.
You'd think the girls now-a-days dressed their hair by shoving their
head into a furze bush and giving it a couple of turns."

She paid no heed to him, but turned to Sheila and said, "You are an
only child?"

"Yes."

"Why did you leave your father?"

The question was rather a cruel one, and it stung Sheila into
answering bravely, "Because my husband wished me."

"Oh. You think your husband is to be the first law of your life?"

"Yes, I do."

"Even when he is only silly Frank Lavender?"

Sheila rose. There was a quivering of her lips, but no weakness in the
proud, indignant look of her eyes: "What you may say of me, that I do
not care. But I will not remain to hear my husband insulted."

"Sheila," said Lavender, vexed and anxious, and yet pleased at the
same time by the courage of the girl--"Sheila, it is only a joke. You
must not mind: it is only a bit of fun."

"I do not understand such jests," she said calmly.

"Sit down, like a good girl," said the old lady with an air of
absolute indifference. "I did not mean to offend you. Sit down and be
quiet. You will destroy your nervous system if you give way to such
impulses. I think you are healthy. I like the look of you, but you
will never reach a good age, as I hope to do, except by moderating
your passions. That is well: now take the ammonia again, and give it
to me. You don't wish to die young, I suppose?"

"I am not afraid of dying," said Sheila.

"Ring the bell, Frank."

He did so, and a tall, spare, grave-faced woman appeared.

"Paterson, you must put luncheon on to two-ten. I ordered it at
one-fifty, did I not?"

"Yes, m'm."

"See that it is served at two-ten, and take this young lady and get
her hair properly done. You understand? My nephew and I will wait
luncheon for her."

"Yes, m'm."

Sheila rose with a great swelling in her throat. All her courage had
ebbed away. She had reflected how pained her husband would be if she
did not please this old lady; and she was now prepared to do anything
she was told, to receive meekly any remar