[Illustration: LADY KITTY BRISTOL] The Marriage of William Ashe BY MRS. HUMPHRY WARD Author of "Lady Rose's Daughter" "Eleanor" etc. ILLUSTRATED BY ALBERT STERNER [Illustration] 1905 Contents PAGE PART I. ACQUAINTANCE . . . . . . . 1 PART II. THREE YEARS AFTER . . . . 125 PART III. DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . 293 PART IV. STORM . . . . . . . . . . 365 PART V. REQUIESCAT . . . . . . . . 511 TO D.M.W. DAUGHTER AND FRIEND I INSCRIBE THIS BOOK MARCH, 1905 Illustrations LADY KITTY BRISTOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ LADY TRANMORE AND MARY LYSTER . . . . . . . . . . . . _Facing page_ 6 "A SLIM GIRL IN WHITE AT THE FAR END OF THE LARGE ROOM" . . . . . . 44 THE FINISHING TOUCHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 "HE GATHERED HER IN HIS ARMS" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 "THE ACTRESS PAUSED TO STARE AT LADY KITTY" . . . . . . . . . . . . 438 "SHE THOUGHT OF CLIFFE STANDING BESIDE THE DOOR OF THE GREAT HALL" . 474 "HE DREW SOME CHAIRS TOGETHER BEFORE THE FIRE" . . . . . . . . . . . 556 PART I ACQUAINTANCE "Just oblige me and touch With your scourge that minx Chloe, but don't hurt her much." The Marriage of William Ashe I "He ought to be here," said Lady Tranmore, as she turned away from the window. Mary Lyster laid down her work. It was a fine piece of church embroidery, which, seeing that it had been designed for her by no less a person than young Mr. Burne Jones himself, made her the envy of her pre-Raphaelite friends. "Yes, indeed. You made out there was a train about twelve." "Certainly. They can't have taken more than an hour to speechify after the declaration of the poll. And I know William meant to catch that train if he possibly could." "And take his seat this evening?" Lady Tranmore nodded. She moved restlessly about the room, fidgeting with a book here and there, and evidently full of thoughts. Mary Lyster watched her a little longer, then quietly took up her work again. Her air of well-bred sympathy, the measured ease of her movements, contrasted with Lady Tranmore's impatience. Yet in truth she was listening no less sharply than her companion to the sounds in the street outside.