ph, he has again presumed to cross my path; I have met him,
I have seen him, I stumbled against him, as he came with his noiseless
step, like a viper; I should have fallen if _his_ arm had not upheld me.
How has he dared--how have you dared to molest me thus?"

"It was not intentional, I am sure," said Lady Randolph, evidently
annoyed; "certainly he did not expect to meet you there; you know how
careful he is."

"But am I to be exposed to the possibility of such a meeting? Was it not
a distinct stipulation that he should avoid even the risk of
encountering me? Lady Randolph, is it or is it not a part of the
agreement by which I permit him to dwell in this house, that I am never
to be tormented with the sight of him?"

"It is, it is," she answered impatiently; "and for that reason I am
vexed this should have occurred. I admit that you are justified in your
complaint, since such was our contract, however cruel this condition;
but I will take care that it does not happen again; and at all events,
Sir Michael, it seems to me that this is a most unfit discussion to be
heard by your nephews and nieces."

"There I differ from you," he said, with a bitter smile, for he loved to
humble the proud woman who had trampled on his heart these many years;
"as they have various motives for seeking to please me, it is as well
they should know my peculiar tastes; let me tell you then," he said,
turning towards them, "that there is one man in the world whom I hate as
I would hate the vilest reptile, and that man is under this roof;
whoever wishes my favor, therefore, will avoid him as they would a
pestilence."

"Let us go," said Lady Randolph, hastily rising, "it is quite late; come
Lilias, you look pale with fatigue; I will show you the way to your
room, in case you lose yourself in the long passages."

This produced an immediate dispersion of the party; Aletheia glided away
whilst her aunt was speaking, and Gabriel followed her with his eyes
till the door closed on the dark figure; then he came with many
expressions of kindly interest to hope that Lilias would rest well,
whilst Walter warmly shook hands with her, and seemed, in his simple
"good-night," very fervently spoken, to express far more than his cousin
had done. But it was not fatigue that had chased for a moment the color
from the sweet face of Lilias: it the blighting breath of that deadly
thing, the hate of a human heart. Never before had this innocent child
come in con