"Oh, indeed, madam; and pray what about yours? Who is talked of at every gathering, and married to everyone in turn?" "I know nothing of those things," said Claire coldly. "Ah, well, all right; but, I say, when's it to be, Claire? Don't fribble away this season. I hear of two good opportunities for you; and--oh, I say, Claire, they do tell me that a certain gentleman said--a certain very high personage--that you were--" "Shame, sister!" cried Claire, starting up as if she had been stung. "How can you--how dare you, speak to me like that?" "Hoity-toity! What's the matter, child?" "Child!" cried Claire indignantly. "Do you forget that you have always been as a child to me--my chief care ever since our mother died? Oh, May, May, darling, this is not like you. Pray--pray be more guarded in what you say. There, dearest, I am not angry; but this light and frivolous manner distresses me. You are Frank Burnett's honoured wife-- girl yet, I know; but your marriage lifts you at once to a position amongst women, and these light, flippant ways sit so ill upon one like you." "Oh, pooh! stuff! you silly, particular old frump!" cried May sharply. "Do you suppose that a married woman is going to be like a weak, prudish girl? There, there, there; I did not come to quarrel, and I won't be scolded. I say, they tell me that handsome Major Rockley is likely to throw himself away on Cora Dean." "Oh, May, May, my darling!" "You are a goose not to catch him in your own net." "Major Rockley?" "Yes; he is rich and handsome. I wish I'd had him instead of Frank." "May, dear May!" "Oh, I know: it's only talk. But, I say, dear, have you heard about old Drelincourt? So shocking! In mourning, too. They say she is mad to marry some one. There, good-bye. Don't crush my bonnet. Oh, of course; yes, I'm going to be as prudish as you, and so careful. Well, what is it?" "May, you cannot deceive me; you have something on your mind." "I? Nonsense! Absurd!" "You were going to tell me something; to ask me to help you, I am sure." "Well--perhaps--yes," said the little thing, with scarlet face. "But you frightened me out of it. I daren't now. Next time. Good-bye; good-bye; good-bye." She rattled these last words out hastily, kissed her sister, and hurried, in a strangely excited manner, from the room. Claire watched the carriage go, and then sank back out of sight in a chair, to clasp her hands upon her knees, and gaze before her with a strangely old look upon her beautiful face. For there was trouble, not help, to be obtained from the wilful, girlish wife who had so lately left her side. Volume One, Chapter XIII. A NIGHT-BIRD TRAPPED. It was, as Morton Denville said, cold and cheerless at his home, and the proceedings that night endorsed his words, as at half-past ten, after the servants had been dismissed, his father rose to seek his sleepless couch.