“Once for all, sir,” said she, haughtily, for her temper was sorely tried, “what is this thing which I am not to like, and yet bound to bear?” “I don't think I said that; I trust I never said your Ladyship was bound to bear anything. So well as I can recall the Chief Baron's words,--and, God forgive me, but I wish I was--no matter what or where--when I heard them,--this is the substance of what he said: 'Tell her,' meaning your Ladyship,--'tell her that, rightly understood, the presence of my granddaughter as mistress of my house--'” “What do you say, sir?--is Miss Lendrick coming to reside at the Priory?” “Of course--what else have I been saying this half-hour?” “To take the position of lady of the house?” said she, not deigning to notice his question. “Just so, Madam.” “I declare, sir, bold as the step is,”--she arose as she spoke, and drew herself haughtily up,--“bold as the step is, it is not half so bold as your own courage in coming to tell of it. What the Chief Baron had not the hardihood to communicate in writing, you dare to deliver to me by word of mouth,--you dare to announce to me that my place, the station I ought to fill, is to be occupied by another, and that whenever I pass the threshold of the Priory, I come as the guest of Lucy Lendrick! I do hope, sir, I may attribute to the confusion of your faculties--a confusion of which this short interview has given me proof--that you really never rightly apprehended the ignominy of the mission your friend intrusted to you.” “You 're right there,” said he, placing both his hands on the side of his head; “confusion is just the name for it.” “Yes, sir; but I apprehend you must have undertaken this office in a calm moment, and let me ask you how you could have lent yourself to such a task? You are aware, for the whole world is aware, that in living apart from the Chief Baron I am yielding to a necessity imposed by his horrible, his insufferable temper; now, how long will this explanation be valid, if my place in any respect should be occupied by another? The isolation in which he now lives, his estrangement from the world, serve to show that he has withdrawn from society, and accepted the position of a recluse. Will this continue now? Will these be the habits of the house with a young lady at its bead, free to indulge all the caprices of ignorant girlhood? I declare, sir, I wonder how a little consideration for your friend might not have led you to warn him against the indiscretion he was about to commit. The slight to me,” said she, sarcastically, and flushing deeply, “it was possible you might overlook; but I scarcely see how you could have forgotten the stain that must attach to that 'large intellect,--that wise and truly great man.' I am quoting a paragraph I read in the 'Post' this morning, with which, perhaps, you are familiar.” “I did not see it,” said Haire, helplessly.