legram. She opened it
quickly, and read as follows:--

British consul horrified; was ignominiously expelled from
consulate; great scandal; am much upset, but will never give
in, for your sake. Eustace.

As the dread meaning of these words penetrated at length to Mrs.
Greyne's voluminous brain a deep flush overspread her noble features.
She rose from the table with a determination that struck awe to the
hearts of the powdered underlings, and, drawing herself up to her full
height, exclaimed:

"Send Mrs. Forbes at once to my study, if you please--at once, do you
understand?"

In a moment Mrs. Forbes, who was the great novelist's maid, appeared on
the threshold of the oracle's lair. She was a sober-looking, black-silk
personage, who always wore a pork-pie cap in the house, and a Mother
Hubbard bonnet out of it. Having been in service with Mrs. Greyne ever
since the latter penned her last minor poetry--Mrs. Greyne had been a
minor poet for three years soon after she put her hair up--Mrs. Forbes
had acquired a certain literary expression of countenance and a manner
that was decidedly prosy. She read a good deal after her supper of an
evening, and was wont to be the arbiter when any literary matter was
discussed in the servants' hall.

"Madam?" she said, respectfully entering the room, and bending the
pork-pie cap forward in an attentive attitude.

Mrs. Greyne was silent for a moment. She appeared to be thinking deeply.
Mrs. Forbes gently closed the door, and sighed. It was nearly her
supper-time, and she felt pensive.

"Madam?" she said again.

Mrs. Greyne looked up. A strange fire burned in her large eyes.

"Mrs. Forbes," she said at length, with weighty deliberation, "the
mission of woman in the world is a great one."

"Very true, madam. My own words to Butler Phillips no longer ago than
dinner this midday."

"It is the protecting of man--neither more nor less."

"My own statement, madam, to Second Footman Archibald this self-same day
at the tea-board."

"Man needs guidance, and looks for it to us--or rather to me."

At the last word Mrs. Forbes pinched her lips together, and appeared
older than her years and sourer than her normal temper.

"At this moment, Mrs. Forbes," continued Mrs. Greyne, with rising
fervour, "he looks for it to me from Africa. From that dark continent
he stretches forth his hands to me in humble supplication."

"Mr. Greyne has not been tak