"No!" said Val, stopping in his progress. "Who's here?" "The Countess-Dowager of Kirton, my lord," replied Hedges, glancing at Lady Hartledon in momentary hesitation. "Oh, indeed!" said Val, as if not enjoying the information. "Just see, Hedges, that the things inside the carriage are all taken out. Don't come up, Mrs. Ball; I will take Lady Hartledon to her rooms." It was the light-hearted Val of the old, old days; his face free from care, his voice gay. He did not turn into any of the reception-rooms, but led his wife at once to her chamber. It was nearly dinner-time, and he knew she was tired. "Welcome home, my darling!" he whispered tenderly ere releasing her. "A thousand welcomes to you, my dear, dear wife!" Tears rose to his eyes with the fervour of the wish. Heaven alone knew what the past had been; the contrast between that time and this. "I will dress at once, Percival," she said, after a few moments' pause. "I must see your children before dinner. Heaven helping me, I shall love them and always act by them as if they were my own." "I am so sorry she is here, Anne--that terrible old woman. You heard Hedges say Lady Kirton had arrived. Her visit is ill-timed." "I shall be glad to welcome her, Val." "It is more than I shall be," replied Val, as his wife's maid came into the room, and he quitted it. "I'll bring the children to you, Anne." They had been married nearly five weeks. Anne had not seen the children for several months. The little child, Edward, had shown symptoms of delicacy, and for nearly a year the children had sojourned at the seaside, having been brought to the town-house just before their father's marriage. The nursery was empty, and Lord Hartledon went down. In the passage outside the drawing-room was Hedges, evidently waiting for his master, and with a budget to unfold. "When did she come, Hedges?" "My lord, it was only a few days after your marriage," replied Hedges. "She arrived in the most outrageous tantrum--if I shall not offend your lordship by saying so--and has been here ever since, completely upsetting everything." "What was her tantrum about?" "On account of your having married again, my lord. She stood in the hall for five minutes when she got here, saying the most audacious things against your lordship and Miss Ashton--I mean my lady," corrected Hedges. "The old hag!" muttered Lord Hartledon. "I think she's insane at times, my lord; I really do. The fits of passion she flies into are quite bad enough for insanity. The housekeeper told me this morning she feared she would be capable of striking my lady, when she first saw her. I'm afraid, too, she has been schooling the children." Lord Hartledon strode into the drawing-room. There, as large as life--and a great deal larger than most lives--was the dowager-countess. Fortunately she had not heard the arrival: in fact, she had dropped into a doze whilst waiting for it; and she started up when Val entered.