ouched
thus:

"Please call at Bunting's Hotel at 3 this afternoon."

In order to respond to this summons, he had to break an engagement; but
he did it willingly. Around the hotel in Albemarle Street circled all
his thoughts, and he desired nothing more than to direct his steps
thither. Arriving with perfect punctuality, he was shown into Lady
Ogram's drawing-room, and found Lady Ogram alone. Artificial complexion
notwithstanding, the stern old visage wore to-day a look as of nature
all but spent. At Lashmar's entrance, his hostess did not move; sunk
together in her chair, head drooping forward, she viewed him from under
her eyebrows: even to give her hand when he stood before her seemed
almost too great an effort, and the shrivelled lips scarce made audible
her bidding that he should be seated.

"You are well, I hope?" said Dyce, feeling uncomfortable, but affecting
to see nothing unusual in the face before him.

Lady Ogram nodded, impatiently. There was a moment's silence; then,
turning her gaze upon him, she said abruptly, in a harsh croak:

"What are you waiting for?"

Lashmar felt a cold touch along his spine. He thought the ghastly old
woman had lost her senses, that she was either mad or delirious. Yet
her gaze had nothing wild; on the contrary, it searched him with all
the wonted keenness.

"Waiting--? I'm afraid I don't understand--"

"Why haven't you done what you know I wish?" pursued the untuneful
voice, now better controlled. "I'm speaking of Constance Bride."

Relieved on one side, Dyce fell into trouble on the other.

"To tell you the truth, Lady Ogram," he answered, with his air of
utmost candour, "I have found no encouragement to take the step of
which you are thinking. I'm afraid I know only too well what the result
would be."

"You know nothing about it."

Lady Ogram moved. As always, a hint of opposition increased her force.
She was suffering acute physical pain, which appeared in every line of
her face, and in the rigid muscles of her arms as she supported herself
on the arms of the chair.

"Answer me this," she went on--and her utterance had something which
told of those far-off days before education and refined society had
softened her tongue. "Will you see Miss Bride this afternoon, and make
her an offer of marriage? Are you willing? Just answer me yes or no."

Dyce replied mechanically and smiled as he replied.

"I am quite willing, Lady Ogram. I only wish I could feel assu