"He is dead. I comfort mysel' wi' that thought. Death was the best thing that could happen him. The poor lad, not long out o' his teens, and tied to a wife, and to the wife's mother likewise. Never was a finer lad flung to the mischief than your brother Da--nay, my tongue willna speak his name. Now then, remember your brother, and don't let your wife ruin you, Robert." "There is no mother-in-law in my case--it is my wife that has the mother-in-law," and he laughed in a grim, self-satisfied way. The mother-in-law in question was not offended, far from it; she laughed too, and then answered: "Ay, the poor lass has the mother-in-law, but you hae the mother, and be thankfu' for the gift and the grace o' her. Your mother willna see you wronged, nor put upon. She'll back you up in a' that is for your authority and welfare. She will that!" "Well, well! We were talking of Ducie." "Ducie is the backer-up against you, and she be to go to her ain folks to-morrow. That is what I intend." "I do not believe you will succeed in getting rid of her." "If you will leave the matter entirely to me, I will rid the house o' her." With this question unsettled between them, it was easy to make trouble, and Robert was cowardly enough to leave it to the women, though he knew well that a few decisive words from himself would put an end to the dispute. Mrs. Campbell was glad he did not say them. She enjoyed the thought of the probable fray, and only waited until Robert had gone to business the next day to begin it. "Jepson," she then said, "you will tell Ducie to come to my parlor at once." Ducie was expecting this call, and she was in the mood to stand upon her rights, which released her from all obligations to obey Mrs. Traquair Campbell's orders. So she loitered in her room putting curls over her brow, in the way they were peculiarly offensive to Mrs. Campbell, adding to this saucy misdemeanor earrings, and two pink bows, a ring on her engagement finger, an embroidered apron, and slippers with rosettes holding a small imitation diamond buckle. Before these preparations were quite complete there was another very peremptory message for her, and she laughingly told Jepson to inform his mistress, that she "hadn't made up her mind yet, whether she would call on her, or not." Jepson toned down this message to a respectful apology for delay, and Mrs. Campbell was on the point of sending another order, when Ducie entered her room. "I sent for you to come _at once_. Why didn't you?" "I was busy." "What were you doing?" "Dressing myself." "You have dressed yourself like a fool." "Please, ma'am, that is something you have nought to do with. My mistress told me how to dress. I am going out with her and Master David to dinner." "Where are you going to dinner?" "I was not bid to say where." "You were bid _not_ to tell me." "My mistress did not name you." "You cannot go out. You will help McNab in the kitchen until two o'clock."