“I have not quite finished what I wish to say, Miss Richards,” he continued, “and we may as well come to a full understanding at once. I have been told of the change in Miss Gladstone’s fortunes. I have, indeed, learned much regarding her life while she was with you that has both pained and surprised me. I know, too, of some things which occurred this year, when you were both visitors at the same fashionable resort. You are, it appears, to remain a resident of England, and we may meet occasionally in society; but let me tell you I shall never allow any such indignity to be heaped upon the future Lady Carrol as that of which you were guilty this summer at Newport.” He saw her start as he said this. “What do you mean?” she demanded, haughtily. “I do not think you are so ignorant of my meaning as you appear,” he returned, his handsome lips curling with scorn; “but if you wish to be reminded of the fact that you publicly twitted Miss Gladstone last summer of having once performed the duties of a chambermaid in your family, I can do so. But do not let it ever happen again, or I shall feel it my duty to make _all_ the facts of the case public.” “Who has told you all this?” she demanded, angrily. “That does not matter,” he replied, coldly; “it is sufficient that I know it.” “Ralph Meredith has told you!” she cried. “Mr. Meredith is my friend—but that is a point we need not discuss, I think,” he answered, quietly. She beat the air frantically with her hands. She felt how little, how contemptible she must appear in his sight. “Perhaps you do not know that he played the role of devoted lover to Miss Gladstone this summer,” she sneered, hoping to make him jealous. Lord Carrol flushed. He had mistrusted something of this from what Ralph had told him. He did not believe that Star would have confessed what she had to him, except to convince him that she could never entertain feelings of affection toward any one save the man who, as she supposed, had wronged her. “Miss Gladstone is my affianced wife,” he replied, proudly feeling that he had a perfect right to regard and speak of her as such, knowing that she still loved him, and that his explanations to her would re-establish their former relations. “But,” he added, as he stepped aside now to allow her to pass, “it is useless to prolong this interview; only let me caution you, Miss Richards, to remember that while you show proper respect for me and _mine_, I shall also tender _you_ the respect belonging to a lady.” She was as white as her spotless dress now. He could see by the moonlight that she had grown perfectly ghastly, but there was a wild, fearful light in her eyes. “My hate will follow you both,” she said, hoarsely, “and I tell you I will ruin your lives if I can.” She dashed by him with the speed of a fawn and disappeared from his sight, leaving him standing there wonder-stricken that a creature so beautiful to look upon could possess so depraved a nature.