"Not at all. I am not waiting for him or for anyone." "You would have married Mr. Grenfell if it had not been for Everard." "Perhaps I should have married Everard if it had not been for Everard," said Magdalen. It seemed as if nothing could shake her dispassionate view of the matter. "Your feelings were certainly engaged, Magdalen. There is no use in denying that." "Have I ever denied it?" Aunt Mary was silent for a moment, but her under lip was ominously thrust out. She was not thinking of what Magdalen had said. If she had ever listened to the remarks of others when they differed from her, she would not have become Lady Blore. She was only silent because she was rallying her forces. "A woman's hands become talons when they try to hold on to a man when he wants to get away," said Magdalen gently. Aunt Mary turned on her niece an opaque eye that saw nothing beyond the owner's views. "Something ought to be done," she said with emphasis. "After all, your father dismissed him. I shall advise your father to write to him, and if he does not--I shall write to him myself." "I hope you will not do that," said Magdalen. "Do you remember what a subject for gossip it was at the time? When father became angry with Everard he told everyone, and it became a sort of loud turmoil. The servants knew, the parish knew, the whole county knew that I had had a disappointment. I have remained ever since in the eyes of the neighbours a sort of blighted creature, a victim of the heartlessness of man. A new edition of that old story now that my hair is grey would be, I think, a little out of place. I had hoped----" The door was suddenly thrown open, and Bessie marched into the room with Aunt Aggie hanging nervously at her heels. "I came back as quickly as I could from the Carters' in order not to miss you," said Bessie to Aunt Mary in her stentorian voice, and she presented a glowing rose cheek to be kissed. Magdalen shot a grateful glance at her sister, and the conversation became general. After the aunts had departed, Bessie said to Magdalen on their way upstairs to dress, "I found when I reached the Carters' that they had gone out with Professor Ridgway to see the Roman camp. Only old Mrs. Carter was at home, and she was rather chilly, and said they had expected me to luncheon. They had had a little party to meet the Professor. I saw that my conduct called for an apology. I made one." "I am glad of that." "I see now that it would have been wiser to have gone over for luncheon as arranged. I also thought how selfish it was of Fay not to help you with the aunts. And then I perceived that there were not two pins to choose between us, as I had been just as bad myself, so I hurried back as quickly as I could." "I was most grateful to you when I saw you come in. And Aunt Mary was pleased too. She never shows it much; but she was."