Then she turned towards him with a look in her eyes which he had never seen in them before--a look which the sweet wistful eyes of Eugenia Laurence had never known, a look which should have made her husband consider what he was doing, what he had done. "It is a terrible pity you did not find out my real character before," she said, "before it was too late. As it is too late, however, no doubt the best thing you can do is to tell me plainly how I can make myself the least disagreeable to you. You shall be troubled by no more `maudlin sentiment,' or tears. So much I can promise you." Then she became perfectly silent again. Captain Chancellor gave a little laugh. "I am glad to hear it," he said, with a slight sneer. "And, by Jove! what a temper she has after all," he thought to himself. "They are all alike, I suppose, all the world over. They all want a tight hand. But I flatter myself I know how to break them in." Then he hummed a tune, drew out his watch and looked what o'clock it was, fidgeted with the window again, all with an air of perfect indifference, which he imagined to be his actual state of mind. But far down in his heart there was a little ache of self-reproach and uneasiness. Had Eugenia turned to him now with tearful eyes and broken words, little as he might have understood her feelings, he would certainly not have repulsed her. Just at this moment the carriage turned in at the Halswood lodge. There was an instant's stoppage, while the heavy iron gates were opened, then they went on again, even more swiftly and smoothly than before. "We are only a quarter of a mile from the house now," said Captain Chancellor. "You should see the lights from your side." "Oh, indeed," said Eugenia, indifferently, turning her eyes listlessly in the direction in which he pointed, thinking that she would not care if an earthquake were suddenly to swallow up Halswood and everything connected with it, herself included; yet determined to hide all feeling--to appear as unconcerned as Beauchamp himself. "Ah, yes, I see them over there. I hope they will have fires," with a little shiver. "Fires?" repeated Beauchamp. "After such a hot day. Why, it is oppressive still. You can't be cold, surely?" "Yes, I am," she said, "very;" and as she spoke, the carriage drew up under the pillared portico, which Captain Chancellor had pronounced so desperately ugly the first time he came to Halswood, and in another moment Eugenia's feet had crossed the threshold of what was now her home.