"Go upstairs," commanded her mistress. "I shall not be long, Honoria." Miss Chressham closed the door. The girl dropped a quick curtsey, and ran swiftly up the great stairway. When she had gone Rose's wife, a slight, wild figure in her dark plain dress, turned sharply on the other woman. "Has he been speaking of me to you?" she demanded. Miss Chressham drew back against the door. "My lord told me," she said, and her wide eyes dilated. "I wonder what he told you," replied the Countess. "I wonder what name you gave to me, among yourselves?" "None I would not use to your face," answered Susannah Chressham, breathing hard. "But why this tone to me, madam? What has happened must be borne by all of us." "What do you think _he_ has to bear?" asked the Countess. Miss Chressham straightened herself. "Do you speak of my lord and cousin, madam?" "I speak of the Earl of Lyndwood, madam, my husband." She turned her large fierce eyes on Susannah, and passion sprang up in them like a flame. "My husband, and may God curse him and his house as I curse him and his!" The blood rushed to Miss Chressham's face. "You are mad!" she said furiously. "Take it so, if you will." The Countess's voice wavered and sank. "But remember it, we are not like to speak on this matter again." She moved towards the stairs, Susannah staring after her with a full glance of horror. At the newel post she paused and looked over her shoulder. "Mad? Strange you should use that word," she said huskily, "but I am very sane, madam." Slowly she went up the wide stairs of Lyndwood Holt, and Rose's cousin watched her until the childish violet-clad figure disappeared in the shadows. PART II CHAPTER I THE SECOND HOME-COMING OF MARIUS LYNDWOOD The Countess Agatha laid down her novel and looked across the beautiful room at her niece, who was drawing the white and gold curtains over the twilight prospect of the Haymarket. "When is Marius going to wait on Rose?" asked the elder lady. "He has been home now two days." Susannah Chressham turned quickly. "Rose is so occupied--since he hath gone into the Ministry, he is seldom at home." "It isn't always service in the Ministry keeps him abroad," remarked his mother lightly. "Marius has been to his reception, you know," said Miss Chressham, "and will call privately to-morrow." She came slowly down the centre of the room. "It is nearly a year since Marius came home before," she said; she seated herself near the Countess and her pink striped dress rustled against the other lady's lavender muslins; the room was all white and pale colours, flowers were painted on the walls and Cupids smiled from the ceiling; the furniture was Aubusson, finely carved and of melting hues; the candles were scented and set in crystal sconces; in one corner stood an elegant spinet, and close by Susannah's gold harp; on a tulip-wood table rested a beau-pot of forget-me-nots, the most vivid thing in the chamber.