ily, to give him a private interview.
He must wait his opportunity.

CHAPTER VI

"IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER"

The next morning Col. Anglesea resolved to have a decisive conversation
with Mrs. Force before the day should be over.

After breakfast he seated himself in the family parlor to await events.

Soon Mr. Force came in to him. He was booted and spurred for a ride.

"I am sorry to have to leave you again to-day, but you know a subpoena is
a thing not to be defied," he said.

"Oh, don't mind me. Sorry to lose your company, but shall find something
to do, no doubt," replied the colonel.

"I fear it would be quite useless to ask you to ride with me?"

"To court? To spend the day there? Yes, quite. I never permit myself to be
bored if I can help it."

"Good-day, then."

"Good-day. I wish you a pleasant ride."

"Thank you," said Mr. Force. And he left the room.

Anglesea kept his seat, and waited for the entrance of Mrs. Force.

There was her workstand, her workbox, her easy-chair and her footstool, in
their cozy corner between the open fire and the side window, but she did
not come to occupy them.

He knew at length that she was voluntarily absenting herself, in order to
avoid a _tete-a-tete_ with him, to which, if she should come into the
sitting room at this time of day, she would be obliged to subject herself,
for at this hour all the children were in the schoolroom with their
governess, and Odalite with them, helping their German lesson.

As soon as Col. Anglesea divined the reason of Mrs. Force's absence he
resolved to lay a trap for her and catch her.

So he went out into the hall, loudly called on one of the men servants to
saddle a horse for him, saying he was going to ride to the post office,
made a great fuss putting on his overcoat, cap and gloves, and finally,
when the horse was brought around to the door, threw himself into the
saddle, and galloped away with so much clatter and bang that the lady,
wherever she might be lurking, could not fail to hear and know that he had
left the house.

And she did not fail to hear and know it; but she was so astonished at the
unusual noise and confusion he made that she asked herself a question
which she would not have asked another:

"Is the man intoxicated at this early hour of the morning, that he behaves
in this very disorderly manner? Well, I am glad he is gone. I hope it is
for all day."

So saying, she went downstairs to the sitting room