"Oh, yes. You know what 'Amlet says, as your poor father used to make jokes about, and call breeches; but I say, isn't she a milk-and-water chit beside you, my gal? Didn't you feel as if you 'ated her?" "No, mother," said Cora thoughtfully. "She's different to what I expected. I don't think she'll live." "Don't talk like that. Now, let's see what about your noo dress." "And yours, mother?" "Of course. And feathers." And as this conversation went on, Stuart Denville and his daughter Claire walked homeward, the latter with the gloom deepening, so it seemed, over her young life, the former with the six crisp notes riding lightly in his pocket, and the load of misery and shame growing heavier day by day. Volume Two, Chapter XII. IN SOCIETY. It was a proud time for the MC, and he knew how it would be canvassed in Saltinville. All the principal people would have honoured his little home, and in the future he saw his fees and offerings doubled, and Claire well married--to Lord Carboro'. No, he could not say that, though the bait was glittering still before his eyes. He was in the drawing-room waiting, with pretty May smiling out of her curls, hanging in her tawdry frame upon the wall; but Claire was not yet down. If she would only forget that night and not avoid him as she did, how much less difficult this burden would be to bear. He rang, and Isaac, in a new suit of livery, appeared. "Send word to your mistress that it is time she was down, Isaac." "Yes, sir." "Is everything ready?" "Yes, sir." "The cards on the tables?" "Yes, sir." "And the refreshments?" "Yes, sir." "You will ask Lady Drelincourt's servant to stop and help wait." "Yes, sir." "And the Earl of Carboro's." "Yes, sir." "Perhaps it would be as well to keep Mr Burnett's man also." "Yes, sir." "I need say no more, Isaac, only that you will see that the tea and coffee are hot, and that the refreshments in the dining-room are ready in relays." "Yes, sir; everything shall be done, sir; and would you mind casting your eye over that, sir?" "Certainly, I will do so, Isaac. Hem! An account, Isaac?" "Yes, sir--wages, sir; and if you would make it convenient--" "My good Isaac," said the MC blandly, "as you must be aware, gentlemen are in the habit sometimes of taking rather long credit, and of often being in debt. I might cite to you His Royal Highness. But no one troubles thereon, because it is well known that sooner or later His Royal Highness will pay his debts." "Yes, sir; of course, sir; but wages, sir--" "Are wanted, Isaac, of course. Now, my good Isaac, you must have seen how much occupied I have been of late. No: say no more now. I will look over your statement, and you shall be paid." A tremendous knock and ring cut short this little scene, and Denville wiped the dew from his face as he uttered a low sigh of relief. "She will come down now.--Ah, my dear Mrs Barclay; my dear Barclay. Delighted to see you both."