Just then some one came and joined us at the window, and Lady Tilchester had to rise and talk with her other guests; but before she moved off she put her hand on my arm and said, as if she had only then remembered it: "Oh, the housekeeper let me know just now that some soot had fallen in your chimney. I do hope you won't mind sleeping in a tiny bedroom off mine, just for to-night. We were so afraid the smell would keep you awake. Your maid has moved your things." Dear and kind lady! I will never forget your goodness to me nor cease to love you. * * * * * It was pouring rain as we drove home next day. Augustus and I only met as we were ready to get into the carriage. I had breakfasted in my room. His face was the color of putty, and he had that look in his eyes which, I remember, long ago I used to say appeared as if he had not had enough sleep. His expression was sulky and morose, and I was thankful when at last we started. The guests were catching all sorts of trains. There were casual good-byes. Lady Tilchester was not down, and no one occupied themselves much with any one. Lady Grenellen left just before us. She did not take the least notice of me, but she talked in a caressing way to Augustus, and I heard him say: "Now, you won't forget! It is a bargain!" in the most _empressé_ voice, as he pulled his head out of the carriage-window. For the first mile or two of our journey neither of us spoke. Augustus lit a cigarette and smoked in a nervous way, and kept opening and shutting the window. Then he swore at me. I will not say the words he used, but the sentence ended with a demand why I sat there looking like a "stuck pig." I told him quietly that if he spoke to me like that I would not reply at all. He got very angry and said he would have none of that nonsense; that I seemed to forget that I was his wife, and that he could do as he pleased with me. "No, you cannot," I said. "I will not be spoken to like that." "You'll be spoken to just as I jolly well please," was his refined reply. "Sitting there like a white wax doll, and giving yourself the airs of a duchess!" I did not answer. "A deaf and dumb doll, too," he said, with an oath. He then asked where I had been all night, and what I had meant by daring to stay away from him. I remained perfectly silent, which, I fear, was infinitely provoking, but I could not stoop to bandy words with him. He began to bluster, and loaded me with every coarse abuse and a tremendous justification of himself and his behavior of the night before. I had not mentioned the subject or accused him of anything, but he assured me he had not been the least drunk and that my haughtiness was enough to drive any man mad. When at least ten minutes of this torrent had spent itself a little, I said the whole subject was so disagreeable to me and discreditable to him that he had better not talk of it and I would try and forget it.