d not sift her suspicions. Who does at
such moments? "Come away at once, and leave it," she said, "or I
shall go." At that moment the croupier raked it all up, and carried
it all away; but Alice did not see that this had been done. A hand
had been placed on her shoulder, and as she turned round her face
her eyes met those of Mr Palliser. "It is all gone," said Glencora,
laughing. And now she, turning round, also saw her husband. "I am so
glad that you are come," said Alice. "Why did you bring her here?"
said Mr Palliser. There was anger in his tone, and anger in his eye.
He took his wife's arm upon his own, and walked away quickly, while
Alice followed them alone. He went off at once, down the front steps
of the building, towards the hotel. What he said to his wife, Alice
did not hear; but her heart was swelling with the ill-usage to which
she herself was subjected. Though she might have to go back alone
to England, she would tell him that he was ill-treating her. She
followed him on, up into their drawing-room, and there he stood with
the door open in his hand for her, while Lady Glencora threw herself
upon a sofa, and burst out into affected laughter. "Here's a piece of
work," she said, "about a little accident."

"An accident!" said Mr Palliser.

"Yes, an accident. You don't suppose that I sat down there meaning to
win all that money?" Whereupon he looked at her with scorn.

"Mr Palliser," said Alice, "you have treated me this evening in a
manner I did not expect from you. It is clear that you blame me."

"I have not said a word, Miss Vavasor."

"No; you have not said a word. You know well how to show your anger
without speaking. As I do not choose to undergo your displeasure, I
will return to England by myself."

"Alice! Alice!" said Glencora, jumping up, "that is nonsense! What
is all this trumpery thing about? Leave me, because he chooses to be
angry about nothing?"

"Is it nothing that I find my wife playing at a common
gambling-table, surrounded by all that is wretched and
vile,--established there, seated, with heaps of gold before her?"

"You wrong me, Plantagenet," said Glencora. "There was only one heap,
and that did not remain long. Did it, Alice?"

"It is impossible to make you ashamed of anything," he said.

"I certainly don't like being ashamed," she answered; "and don't feel
any necessity on this occasion."

"If you don't object, Mr Palliser," said Alice, "I will go to bed.
You can think ov