e spent
her first half-year's dividend from the Venice Hotel Company, with
characteristic prodigality, in presents for the children.

Early in the year, also, the Directors of the life insurance offices
submitted to circumstances, and paid the ten thousand pounds.
Immediately afterwards, the widow of the first Lord Montbarry
(otherwise, the dowager Lady Montbarry) left England, with Baron Rivar,
for the United States. The Baron's object was announced, in the
scientific columns of the newspapers, to be investigation into the
present state of experimental chemistry in the great American republic.
His sister informed inquiring friends that she accompanied him, in the
hope of finding consolation in change of scene after the bereavement
that had fallen on her. Hearing this news from Henry Westwick (then
paying a visit at his brother's house), Agnes was conscious of a
certain sense of relief. 'With the Atlantic between us,' she said,
'surely I have done with that terrible woman now!'

Barely a week passed after those words had been spoken, before an event
happened which reminded Agnes of 'the terrible woman' once more.

On that day, Henry's engagements had obliged him to return to London.
He had ventured, on the morning of his departure, to press his suit
once more on Agnes; and the children, as he had anticipated, proved to
be innocent obstacles in the way of his success. On the other hand, he
had privately secured a firm ally in his sister-in-law. 'Have a little
patience,' the new Lady Montbarry had said, 'and leave me to turn the
influence of the children in the right direction. If they can persuade
her to listen to you--they shall!'

The two ladies had accompanied Henry, and some other guests who went
away at the same time, to the railway station, and had just driven back
to the house, when the servant announced that 'a person of the name of
Rolland was waiting to see her ladyship.'

'Is it a woman?'

'Yes, my lady.'

Young Lady Montbarry turned to Agnes.

'This is the very person,' she said, 'whom your lawyer thought likely
to help him, when he was trying to trace the lost courier.'

'You don't mean the English maid who was with Lady Montbarry at Venice?'

'My dear! don't speak of Montbarry's horrid widow by the name which is
my name now. Stephen and I have arranged to call her by her foreign
title, before she was married. I am "Lady Montbarry," and she is "the
Countess." In that way there will be no confusio