"I'll go on with my story," said Constance, in a voice still under studious control. "All this happened when Lady Ogram thought she had no living relative. One fine day, Mr. Kerchever came down with news of Miss Tomalin, and straightway the world was altered. Lady Ogram had a natural heiress, and one in whom she delighted. Everything had to be reconsidered. The great hospital became a dream. She wanted May Tomalin to be rich, very rich, to marry brilliantly. I have always suspected that Lady Ogram looked upon her life as a sort of revenge on the aristocratic class for the poverty and ignorance of her own people; did anything of the kind ever occur to you?" "Was her family really mean?" "Everyone says so. Mrs. Gallantry tells me that our illustrious M. P. has made laborious searches, hoping to prove something scandalous. Of course she tells it as a proof of Mr. Robb's unscrupulous hatred of Lady Ogram. I daresay the truth is that she came of a low class. At all events, Miss Tomalin, who represents the family in a progressive stage, is to establish its glory for ever. One understands. It's very human." Lashmar wore the Toplady smile. "It never occurred to our friend," he said, "that her niece might undertake the great trust instead of you?" "She has spoken to me quite frankly about that. The trust cannot be so great as it would have been, but it remains with me. Miss Tomalin, it 'nay be hoped, will play not quite an ordinary part in the fashionable world; she has ideas of her own, and"--the voice was modulated--"some faith in herself. But my position is different, and perhaps my mind. Lady Ogram assures me that her faith in me, and her hopes, have suffered no change. For one thing, the mill is to become my property. Then--" She hesitated, and her eyes passed over the listener's face. Lashmar was very attentive. "There's no need to go into details," she added quickly. "Lady Ogram told me everything, saying she felt that the time had come for doing so. And I accepted the trust." "Without knowing, however," said Dyce, "the not unimportant condition which her mind attached to it." "There was no condition, expressed or reserved." Constance's tone had become hard again. Her eyes were averted, her lips set in their firmest lines. "Are you quite sure of that?" "Quite," was the decisive reply. "How do you reconcile that with what has passed today between Lady Ogram and me?" "It was between Lady Ogram and _you_," said Constance, subduing her voice. "I see. You mean that I alone am concerned; that your position will in no case be affected?" "Yes, I mean that," answered Constance, quietly. Lashmar thought for a moment, then moved on his chair, and spoke in a low tone, which seemed addressed to his hearer's sympathy.