nce, and sat down opposite to her, gazing at her across the
little table. "Yes," he said with defiance, "you have made up your mind
to that beforehand. I could see it in your eyes. What should be amiss?"

"Theo, you do me wrong. I had made up my mind to nothing beforehand--but
I am very anxious. I know there must be difficulties. What are your
negotiations with Mr. Longstaffe? Is it about settlements?--is it----"

"Longstaffe is an old fool, mother: that is about what it is."

"No, my dear. I am sure he is a kind friend, who has your interests at
heart."

"Whose interests?" he said, with a harsh laugh. "You must remember there
are two sides to the question. I should say that the interests of a
husband and wife were identical, but that is not the view taken by those
wretched little pettifogging country lawyers."

"Dear Theo, it is never, I believe, the view taken by the law. They have
to provide against the possibility of everything that is bad--they must
suppose that it is possible for every man to turn out a domestic
tyrant."

"Every man!" he said, with a smile of scorn: "do you think I should be
careful about that? They may bind me down as much as they please. I have
held out my hands to them ready for the fetters. What I do grudge," he
went on, as if, the floodgates once opened, the stream could not be
restrained, "is all that they are trying to impose upon her, giving her
the appearance of feelings entirely contrary to her nature--making her
out to be under the sway of---- That's what I can't tolerate. If I knew
her less, I might imagine--but thank God, I am sure on that point," he
added, with a sharpness in his voice which did not breathe conviction to
his mother's ear.

She laid her hand upon his arm, soothing him. "You must remember, that
in the circumstances a woman is not her own mistress. Oh, Theo, that was
always the difficulty I feared. You are so sensitive, so ready to start
aside like a restive horse, so intolerant of anything that seems less
than perfect."

"Am I so, mother?" He gathered her hand into his, and laid down his head
upon it, kissing it tremulously. "God bless you for saying so. My own
mother says it--a fastidious fool, always looking out for faults, putting
meanings to everything--starting at a touch, like a restive horse."

How it was that she understood him, and perceived that to put his faults
in the clearest light was the best thing she could do for him, it would
be hard to tell