nd she felt sure that the man
had been told of its contents and was struggling with the express
view of adding to her annoyance. The same thing happened at Carlisle,
where the box was carried up into Lizzie's bedroom by the footman,
and where she was convinced that her treasure had become the subject
of conversation for the whole house. In the morning people looked
at her as she walked down the long platform with the box still
struggling before her. She almost wished that she had undertaken its
carriage herself, as she thought that even she could have managed
with less outward show of effort. Her own servants seemed to be
in league against her, and Miss Macnulty had never before been so
generally unpleasant. Poor Miss Macnulty, who had a conscientious
idea of doing her duty, and who always attempted to give an adequate
return for the bread she ate, could not so far overcome the effect of
Mr. Camperdown's visit as to speak on any subject without being stiff
and hard. And she suffered, too, from the box,--to such a degree that
she turned over in her mind the thought of leaving Lizzie, if any
other possible home might be found for her. Who would willingly live
with a woman who always travelled about with a diamond necklace worth
ten thousand pounds, locked up in an iron safe,--and that necklace
not her own property.

But at last Lady Eustace, and Miss Macnulty, and the servants,--and
the iron box,--reached Portray Castle in safety.

CHAPTER XXI

"Ianthe's Soul"

Lady Eustace had been rather cross on the journey down to Scotland,
and had almost driven the unfortunate Macnulty to think that Lady
Linlithgow or the workhouse would be better than this young tyrant;
but on her arrival at her own house she was for awhile all smiles and
kindness. During the journey she had been angry without thought, but
was almost entitled to be excused for her anger. Could Miss Macnulty
have realised the amount of oppression inflicted on her patroness by
the box of diamonds she would have forgiven anything. Hitherto there
had been some secrecy, or at any rate some privacy attached to the
matter; but now that odious lawyer had discussed the matter aloud, in
the very streets, in the presence of the servants, and Lady Eustace
had felt that it was discussed also by every porter on the railway
from London down to Troon, the station in Scotland at which her own
carriage met her to take her to her own castle. The night at Carlisle
had bee