as Eve gathering at
Mondreer.

"We thank you very much, and we shall like to go, if we can," said Mrs.
Force, as she left her seat and went to the front window, where Odalite
stood looking out on the fast-gathering clouds.

"You heard Tom Grandiere's message, dear?" she asked, in a low tone.

"Yes, mamma," answered Odalite, who slipped a letter into her pocket.

"Then it depends on you, dear, whether we accept the invitation or not. If
you prefer to stay quietly at home, be sure that we shall not go and leave
you alone."

"Then I prefer to go, mamma. I could not bear that the children should be
disappointed. And, indeed," she added, seeing that her mother hesitated,
"I shall enjoy going."

"Very well, dear," said Mrs. Force. And she went back and spoke to Tom
Grandiere, accepting, in the name of her whole family, the invitation of
which he was the bearer.

Tom then arose, and, saying that he had yet to go to a good many other
houses, took leave and departed.

CHAPTER XLIV

ANGLESEA AGAIN

Mrs. Force went up to her daughter, and said:

"Come with me to my own room. I have something to say to you."

Odalite immediately followed her mother to that little parlor which had
been the scene of so many critical interviews.

When the door was shut, and the mother and daughter were seated together
before the fire, the lady inquired:

"Odalite, my love, what letter was that which you received by this
morning's mail, and put into your pocket the moment I joined you at the
window?"

"Oh, mamma, it was a little note that would only have given you pain!"
said Odalite, shrinking.

"Yet what was it? Tell me."

"It was a letter from him, mother, written on Saturday morning, an hour
before he sailed for Liverpool. It was directed on the outside to Miss
Odalite Force, but, on the inside, to Mrs. Angus Anglesea."

"The serpent! He knew full well that, if he had presumed to offer us such
an affront as to give you his name where your father could see it, the
insult would never have been permitted to reach your eyes! Where is the
letter, Odalite? Let me see it."

The girl took the paper from its envelope, and, in wrath and scorn, read
as follows:

"To Mrs. Angus Anglesea: My wife--for wife you are, despite all the
false testimony brought forward to separate us--I was forced by
circumstances to depart from you without a last farewell; yet I cannot
deny myself the privilege of writing to you a last lette