’If you insist, I will tell. If you have any pity you will spare me. In time—before the day, you shall know.’ He passed his hand over his face again. ’This is a pleasant prospect,’ he said, but did not explain whether he alluded to the landscape or to his marriage. He said no more to force further confidence from her. ’Come,’ said he, roughly, and he turned suddenly round, ’you shall see the house. You shall be shown what I have in it, all the rooms and the furniture, also the cowsheds, and the dairy—everything. You shall see what will be yours. You would get no other man with so much as I have.’ ’Not to-day, Mr Langford. Let me go home. I should see nothing to-day. My eyes are full, and my heart fuller.’ ’Then go,’ he said, and reseated himself at the table. She moved towards the door. He had his chin on his hand, and was looking at the grate. She hesitated, holding the handle. ’Hah!’ exclaimed Langford, starting up. ’Did you hear that? a-fluttering down the passage? That was Mrs. Veale, trying to listen, but could hear nothing; trying to peep, but could see nothing, because I have covered every chink. Come here! come here, Mrs. Veale!’ As she did not respond, he rang the bell violently, and the pale woman came. ’Come here, Mrs. Veale! show the future mistress out of the house! Not by the kitchen, woman! Unbar the great door. Show her out, and curtsey to her, and at the same time take your own discharge.’ ’"When one comes in the other goes out," as the man said of the woman in the weather-house,’ remarked Mrs. Veale with a sneer. She curtsied profoundly. ’There’s been calm heretofore. Now comes storm.’ *CHAPTER XXXII.* *THE CHINA DOG.* No sooner was the scarlet cloak gone than Mrs. Veale leaned back against the wall in the passage and laughed. Langford had never heard her laugh before, and the noise she made now was unpleasant. Her face was grey, her pale eyes glimmered in the dark passage. ’Will you be quiet?’ said Taverner angrily. ’Get along with you into the kitchen and don’t stand gulping here like water out of a narrow-necked bottle.’ ’So!—that be the wife you’ve chosen, master! It is ill screwing a big foot into a small shoe; best suit your shoe to the size of your foot.’ ’You have received notice to leave. A month from to-day.’ ’This is breaking the looking-glass because you don’t like your face,’ said the housekeeper. ’"Come help me on with the plough," said the ox to the gadfly. "With the greatest of pleasure," answered the fly, and stung the ox.’ ’Gadfly!’ shouted Taverner. ’Sheathe your sting, please, or don’t practise on me.’ ’You marry!’ scoffed Mrs. Veale ’"I’m partial to honey," said the fox, and upset the hive. "You must learn how to take it," answered the swarm, and surrounded him.’ ’I’ll turn you out at once,’ said Langford, angrily.