"I will do no such things." "It would stop people's tongues." "Their tongues may clash till doomsday, ere I will stop them that gate. Never name the wicked woman to me again. I do not know her any more, and I do not want to know, whether she is living or dead, in plenty or poverty, sick or well, happy or miserable. She is out o' this world, as far as I am concerned. _Sure!_" "What did Robert say?" "Threw the whole blame on mysel'--evil be to him!" "Mother!" "Yes, evil be to the son who condemns his mother, whether she be right or wrong." "He will not get Sir Thomas to invest money in the works now, I fear. That will trouble him." "Weel! The Campbell furnaces have kept blazing so far, without Wynton siller to help them, and their fires willna go out for the want o' it." "I wonder how Sir Thomas will take his disappointment." "It is untelling how any man will take anything. You couldna speculate as to how Robert Campbell would take a plate o' parritch; he might like them, and he might send them to the Back o' Beyond. All men are made that way, and we poor women can only put up wi' their tempers and tantrums. God help us!" At this moment Jepson entered with a basket filled with moss and purple pansies. A card was attached bearing the following message: "_Sir Thomas Wynton sends sincere sympathy, and kind regards to Mrs. and Miss Campbell. He will not intrude on their grief at present, but will call in a few days._" Isabel laid her face against the flowers, Mrs. Campbell read the card with pleasure, and a slight flush of color came back to her cheeks. "This bit of card will give me the upper hand of a' the clashing jades, who come here wondering and sighing, and doubting and fearing. I shall shake it in their faces, and bid them tak' notice that Sir Thomas Wynton is still in the family as it were. And I shall make one other observe anent the marriage failure, that Sir Thomas will take as personal, any and all unpleasant remarks concerning the Campbells." "When Sir Thomas pays his visit----" "You be to see that Dora is present. The creature has a wonderful way o' saying consoling words. I hae noticed that all men find her pleasant and satisfactory. She has the trick o' speaking just what they want to hear--the jade!" "Do speak decently of Dora, mother. She is Robert's wife." "More's the pity. God help the poor man! Little pleasure he has wi' her." "It is not her fault." "I see how it is--she will lead you wrong next." "No one can lead me wrong. I wonder if Sir Thomas went to see Robert to-day." "I think Robert would go and see him. We may wonder all day, but we will know, when Robert comes home; that is, if his temper will let him talk. _Dod!_ but he is a true Campbell--flesh, blood, and bone." "When Robert was in love with Dora, love made him a kind, good-tempered man."