‘I don’t see why we need go to the library; I am not in a mood for accounts or anything of that sort to-night. I only want to ask you about Miss Llewellyn. How did she take the news of my marriage, Sterndale, and is she well out of England? Where did she go to, and was she satisfied with the provision I made for her? To tell you the truth, the thought of her has been bothering me a good deal lately. The countess is a noble, generous girl, and quite up to snuff, but she is high-spirited, and if there were any chance of her meeting the other, or hearing much about her, I wouldn’t answer for the consequences.’ ‘You need not be in the least afraid of that, Lord Ilfracombe,’ replied the solicitor. ‘Are you sure? Did she accept a sum down, or did you invest the money for her, and if so, how and where? Is she out of England, and likely to remain so? I daresay you will vote me an alarmist, Sterndale, but you see, when all’s said and done, Nell was very fond of me, and women turn into perfect devils sometimes when they are crossed in such matters.’ ‘I repeat, my lord, that you have no cause to fear the least annoyance from Miss Llewellyn.’ ‘Thank God for that,’ said the earl, with a look of relief. ‘And now, tell me all you can about it, Sterndale. Was she much upset at the idea of my giving her up? Had you any difficulty about it? Or did she accept the inevitable, and clear out quietly?’ Mr Sterndale prepared himself for a conference, previously to commencing which he rose, and having seen that the dining-room door was securely fastened, sat down again opposite to the earl. ‘I have rather a painful duty before me, my lord. Painful, that is to say, in one sense, but, to my mind, providential in another. Your lordship is now happily married, and, doubtless, would wish to cast even the memory of the past behind you.’ ‘It is my desire to do so, to forget it ever existed, if possible,’ said the young man eagerly; ‘but still I feel that will not be feasible until I am assured that Miss Llewellyn is well provided for, and in a fair way to be happy.’ ‘Very praiseworthy and generous,’ murmured the solicitor, ‘but quite unnecessary. In the first place, my lord, Miss Llewellyn blankly refused to accept any settlement or provision at your hands. She took the draft which I submitted for her approval and tore it across, and flung the pieces in my face. Indeed, I may say, the young woman was exceedingly rude to me, but I can afford to forgive it now.’ ‘I am sorry to hear that, Sterndale, but I suppose your news upset her. She was not accustomed to be rude in manners or speech to any of my friends. But, doubtless, she apologised. She took the settlement on reconsideration.’ ‘Indeed, she did not, Lord Ilfracombe! She has never taken it.’ ‘Then how is she living?’ asked the earl eagerly. ‘Where is she at present?’ ‘I must prepare your lordship for a slight shock,’ replied the solicitor gravely, ‘for it was a shock to me. Miss Llewellyn is no more.’