“Then you will pardon me for saying that you do not understand Lady Gwendolyn. If impulsive, she is very generous, and rather sought to take the blame of your separation upon herself. I remember her very words: ‘You know I am a spoiled child, Mr. Large, and very difficult to please. I expected so much that I was sure to be disappointed, and, therefore, have no right to complain. Pray let us keep the affair as quiet as we can.’ I reminded her that her friends would demand some explanation of her conduct; but she assured me that she was perfectly independent in every way, and had no intention of consulting anybody. Of course, I knew nothing of her ladyship’s motives, and had no right to interfere. I am only surprised that she allowed me to say as much as I did.” “Did she look ill, Mr. Large?” “Extremely ill--so ill that I took the liberty of advising her to keep within reach of good medical advice.” “And what did she say?” inquired Sir Lawrence eagerly. “She said she had had a long journey, and a trying time mentally; but that she should, no doubt, be all right when she got into the country.” “Got into the country?” repeated Sir Lawrence, welcoming the hint eagerly. “She did not mention Turoy, I suppose?” “Yes, she did. She told me that her old nurse, Hannah, would not be able to take care of it any longer as her husband had obtained a good situation at Westhampstead, and, therefore, she should like the house let if I could get her a respectable tenant.” “Should you consider me a respectable tenant?” inquired Sir Lawrence, with a faint, trembling smile. Mr. Large seemed amused. “Would you care to have the Grange?” “Certainly I should. I could not bear a stranger there where my wife passed so many happy months when she was a child; moreover, I think that Lady Gwendolyn ought not to be living on six or seven hundred a year when I have thirty thousand, and I suppose she will not allow me to help her in any other way.” “But, you see, Sir Lawrence, her ladyship knows that the Grange is only worth about eighty or ninety pounds a year; and if I were to offer her a fancy rent, she would immediately suspect something wrong.” “It can’t be wrong for a man to support his wife. I wish, with all my heart, that Lady Gwendolyn had not a farthing, and then it would have been difficult for her to leave me, unless she had the law on her side.” “I infer, from what she says, Sir Lawrence, that she considers herself to have the law on her side, but does not care to appeal to it.” “I wish she would, with all my heart. The only thing I ask is an opportunity of explaining matters, and clearing myself. I should never have condemned her without proof.” “When I begged her ladyship to reflect before she took a step that she might regret so much later, and mentioned how deceitful appearances often were, she told me that she had the fullest proof, and must needs believe her own eyes and ears.”