red that
Miss Bride--"

He was rudely interrupted.

"Don't talk, but listen to me." For a moment the lips went on moving,
yet gave no sound; then words came again. "I've told you once already
about Constance, what I think of her, and what I intend for her. I
needn't go over all that again. As for you, I think I've given proof
that I wish you well. I was led to it at first because I saw that
Constance liked you; now I wish you well for your own sake, and you may
trust me to do what I can to help you on. But till a man a married, no
one can say what he'll make of his life. You've plenty of brains, more
than most men, but I don't think you've got too much of what I call
backbone. If you make a fool of yourself--as most men do--in marriage,
it's all up with you. I want to see you safe. Go where you will, you'll
find no better wife, better in every way for _you_, than Constance
Bride. You want a woman with plenty of common sense as well as uncommon
ability; the kind of woman that'll keep you going steadily--up--up! Do
you understand me?"

The effort with which she spoke was terrible. Her face began to shine
with moisture, and her mouth seemed to be parched. Lashmar must have
been of much sterner stuff for these vehement and rough-cut sentences
to make no impression upon him; he was held by the dark, fierce eye,
and felt in his heart that he had heard truths.

"And mind this," continued Lady Ogram, leaning towards him.
"Constance's marriage alters nothing in what I had planned for her
before I knew you. She'll have her duties quite apart from your
interests and all you aim at. I know her; I'm not afraid to trust her,
even when she's married. She's honest--and that's what can be said of
few women. This morning I had a talk with her. She knows, now, the
responsibility I want her to undertake, and she isn't afraid of it. I
said nothing to her about _you_; not a word: but, when you speak to
her, she'll understand what was in my mind. So let us get things
settled, and have no more bother about it. On Saturday"--it was three
days hence--"I go back to Rivenoak; I've enough of London; I want to be
quiet. You are to come down with us. You've business at Hollingford on
the 20th, and you ought to see more of the Hollingford people."

Whatever Lady Ogram had proposed (or rather dictated) Dyce would have
agreed to. He was under the authority of her eye and voice. The
prospect of being down at Rivenoak, and there, of necessity, livin