"Excuse me, Lady Vincent; but I must request the favor of a few moments' conversation with you." "Very well, my lord," answered Claudia, bowing coldly. He led the way to the drawing room and Claudia followed. Coffee was already served there, and old Cuthbert was in attendance to hand it around. "You may go, Cuthbert. We can wait on ourselves." said Lord Vincent, as he led his wife to a seat and took one for himself near her. When the old servant had left the room the viscount turned to Claudia and said: "Lady Vincent, I have been obliged to solicit this interview because I have much to say to you, while you give me very few opportunities of saying anything." Claudia bowed a cold assent and remained silent. "It is of Mrs. Dugald that I wish to speak to you." "I am listening, my lord," replied Claudia haughtily. "Lady Vincent, this arrogant manner towards me will not serve any good purpose. However, it is not on my own score that I came to complain, but on Mrs. Dugald's; that lady's position in this house is a very delicate one." "So delicate, my lord, that I think the sooner she withdraws from it the better it will be." "You do! It is the to that end, then, I presume, that you have treated her with so much scorn and contempt?" said his lordship angrily. "My lord, with all my faults, I am no hypocrite; and with all my accomplishments I am no actress." "What do you mean by that, my lady?" "I mean that I have not been able to treat your--sister-in-law--with the respect that I could not feel for her," replied Claudia, with disdain. "No, madam!" exclaimed Lord Vincent, turning pale with rage. "You have treated that lady with the utmost contumely. And I have demanded this interview with you for the express purpose of telling you that I will not submit to have the widow of my brother treated with disrespect in my own house and by my own wife!" Claudia arose with great dignity and answered: "My lord, since you desired this interview for the purpose of expressing your wishes upon this point; and, since you have expressed them, I presume the object of our meeting has been accomplished and I am at liberty to withdraw. Good-night." "Not so fast, not so fast, Lady Vincent! I have not done with you yet, my lady. The will that I have just spoken must be obeyed. Mrs. Dugald must be treated by you, as well as by others, with the courtesy and consideration due to her rank and position. Many abuses must be reformed. And among them is this--your constant refusal to appear in public with her. Ever since your arrival here Mrs. Dugald has been a prisoner in the house, because she cannot go out alone; and she will not go out, attended by me, unless you are also of the party, for fear that evil-minded people will talk." Claudia's beautiful lip curled with scorn as she answered: "Mrs. Dugald's scruples do credit to her--powers of duplicity."