o anger, and cursed the poverty which
forbade him to act in full accordance with his ideal of conduct.

He had spent nearly a fortnight at Rivenoak, when Lady Ogram, now
seemingly restored to her ordinary health, summoned him at eleven in
the morning to the green drawing-room.

"I hope I didn't disturb your work," she began, kindly. "As you are
leaving so soon--" Dyce had said nothing whatever about departure--"I
should like to have a quiet word with you, whilst Constance is in the
town. All goes well at Hollingford, doesn't it?"

"Very well indeed, I think. Breakspeare gets more hopeful every day."

Lady Ogram nodded and smiled. Then a fit of abstraction came upon her;
she mused for several minutes, Dyce respectfully awaiting her next
words.

"What are your own wishes about the date?"

Imagining that she referred to the election, and that this was merely
another example of failing intelligence, Dyce answered that, for his
own part, he was ready at any time; if a dissolution--

"Pooh!" Lady Ogram interrupted, "I'm talking about your marriage."

"Ah! Yes--yes. I haven't asked Constance--"

"Suppose we say the end of October? You could get away for a month or
two."

"One thing is troubling me, Lady Ogram," said Dyce, in tone of graceful
hesitancy. "I feel that it will be a very ill return for all your
kindness to rob you of Constance's help and society, which you prize
so."

The keen old eyes were fixed upon him.

"Do you think I am going to live for ever?" sounded abruptly and
harshly, though, it was evident, with no harsh intention.

"I'm sure I hope--"

"Well, we won't talk about it. I must do without Constance, that's all.
You'll of course have a house in London, but both of you will often be
down here. It's understood. About the end of October. Time enough to
make arrangements. I'll settle it with Constance. So to-morrow morning
you leave us, on a visit to your parents. I suppose you'll spend a
couple of days there?"

In his confused mind, Dyce could only fix the thought that Constance
had evidently told Lady Ogram of his intention to go to Alverholme. It
was plain that those two held very intimate colloquies.

"A couple of days," he murmured in reply.

"Good. Of course you'll write to me when you're in town again."

At luncheon, Lady Ogram talked of Lashmar's departure. Constance, he
felt sure, already knew about it. Really, he was treated with somewhat
scant ceremony. An obstinate mood fell u