“Her own eyes!” repeated Sir Lawrence. “But she came straight from Paris here, I presume?” “I do not know if am doing right, Sir Lawrence, but I cannot help telling you that when her ladyship came to me she had just returned from Borton, and not from Paris.” Sir Lawrence became frightfully pale. He understood it all now. “Then I am undone,” he said. “What my wife saw there she would certainly misconstrue, and she has left me no chance of explaining matters.” For a minute his courage gave way utterly, and he buried his face in his hands, and trembled from head to foot with the effort he made to command himself. CHAPTER XXIV. A COTTAGE BY THE SEA. All Mr. Large’s sympathies had been with Lady Gwendolyn at starting; but now he began to think there might possibly be another side to the question. He knew Lady Gwendolyn was naturally impulsive--and legal men generally look upon impulsiveness as a fault, or, at best, an inconvenient quality which stands in the way of anything like calm, dispassionate judgment. Of course she had seen and heard something, since she said so; but then “trifles light as air are, to the jealous, confirmation strong as proofs of holy writ,” and a person who jumps to conclusions is not to be trusted in any way. He felt for this girl more than a lawyer’s interest in his client, for he had known her since she was a child. He could not bear that she should throw away her happiness, and, therefore, when Sir Lawrence said: “If I write a letter to my wife, explaining matters fully, will you forward it to her as soon as you know her address, Mr. Large?” He answered readily: “With great pleasure, Sir Lawrence. She did not forbid me to do that.” “Then I won’t detain you any longer just now,” said Sir Lawrence. “I am exceedingly obliged to you for befriending me, Mr. Large,” he added, with a sad smile; “and I do assure you, on my honor as a gentleman, that I am perfectly guiltless of any offense toward my wife. Where I have sinned is against Heaven, in setting myself up an earthly idol, and for this I am being punished deservedly now.” His tone was one of deep emotion and unmistakable sincerity. Mr. Large could not help saying: “I will do the best I can for you, Sir Lawrence; but I am afraid you will need all your patience. Her ladyship gave me to understand that she should not write to me until she wanted money, and as she is supposed to have her half-year’s allowance with her, that will not be yet.” “My only hope is that not being accustomed to economize, she will find her income insufficient. She has been accustomed to spend more than she has now upon her dress and charities, and will, I am sure, find it very difficult to make both ends meet now. Excuse me for dwelling on this possibility; but it is my one hope.” “Then it is not to be wondered you should dwell on it, under the circumstances,” replied Mr. Large. “But may I venture to ask, Sir Lawrence, what your present plans are?”