"That is all a very old story, Mr Riddell. As you may have seen, we do not wish to look back on it in a tragical manner. If Mr Leigh _wishes_ to call here, I am sure my mother will be quite willing to receive him. Why not? As you say, he made a mistake. It was a natural one." She spoke with a kind of hauteur, mingling with the smiling coolness of Lady Haredale's manner. Sylvester's heart sank within him. Then she did not care what either of them thought of her. "You would be at home--when?" he stammered. "Let me see. This afternoon we go to a _matinee_. We expect a few friends to-night, we shall be at home after dinner. Will you come then--and Mr Leigh, if he wishes." Sylvester murmured thanks and acceptance, and having gained his point went away miserable. When he got back, he did his best to make Lucian as unhappy as himself; so that it was perhaps as well that the latter went off by the next train to Cleverley to fetch the dress-clothes, which he had left behind him there. CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. THE DEAD PAST. On the morning after Miss Grattan's great ball Miss Annabel Haredale sat alone, in the pretty sitting-room assigned to herself and Miss Carisbrooke. She was very unhappy, almost more unhappy than when, more than two years ago, she had made up her mind to give Amethyst back to her parents--and she was not now so entirely clear in conscience. She had, when something like necessity impelled her, fallen back into a way of looking at things, which she had long cast aside. For many years in her quiet untempted life, she had been in the habit of thinking whether things were right, and now she had returned to early customs of thinking whether they were expedient. As she sat reflecting on the scenes of the night before, there was a tap at the door, and Amethyst came in. Miss Haredale thought that she had come to announce her engagement, and, with a freak of memory, her thoughts flew back to the morning when the girl had rushed in upon her, full of delight to tell her that she had passed an examination! If Amethyst had good news to tell now, she did not seem much exhilarated by it. "Aunt Anna," she said, "there are one or two things I want to ask you about, and I hope you will tell me nothing but the truth about them." "Of course, my dear. I am sure you know that I shall." "I think you will," said Amethyst, "though I don't see how any one can do them, and yet tell the truth about them. Do you mean to let Carrie marry Charles? You have intended it, I know." "Why, Amethyst," said Miss Haredale, "there's no one but Charles to keep up the family name. He must marry a girl with money, and, though Carrie wants style, he might do worse. And he is making great efforts to reform--of course last night was a sad slip. But I do think he is really anxious to settle. Imagine what it would be, if he couldn't show when he comes to the title."