"Dear Ted," I said, "Essie is very ill. No one must go in." "No one go in!" said Ted flushing darkly. "I am astonished at you, Beatrice. The Duke wishes to see his mother's room once more, on bidding farewell to his ancestral home, and you take upon yourself to forbid it." "My sister-in-law is ill," I said, addressing the Duke, "it would distress her if a stranger were to go in suddenly." "I understand perfectly, Madam," he said coldly, and made as if to take his leave. "Stop," said Ted, purple in the face. "My wife _is_ unwell. She is overtired, but she is the kindest, most tender-hearted woman in the world. It would cut her to the heart if she found out afterwards she had prevented your Grace's seeing this room for the last time. Wait one moment, while I go in and explain it to her, and help her to walk a few steps to the settle here." And Ted, with a furious glance at me, pushed past me, and went into the room. "It would be a great kindness to my sister, who is very nervous," I said to the Duke, "if you would wait a moment in the garden." He instantly went towards the open door into the garden. Then I darted after Ted. Between us we would hurry Essie into one of the many other rooms that opened into the hall. She was standing by the window frantically endeavouring to break the lattice of the central casement, which was a little larger than the others. There was blood on her hand. Ted was speaking, but she cut him short. "Not in here," she said passionately. "I won't have it. He mustn't come in here." "He must come in if I say so," said Ted. The colour had left his face. I had seen him angry before now, but never so angry as this. "No," said Essie, "he must not." She came and stood before her husband. "Haven't I been a good wife to you these five years past," she said. "Haven't I done my best to make you happy? Haven't I obeyed you in everything, everything, everything--till now?" He stared at her open-mouthed. She had never opposed him before. She fell on her knees before him, and clasped his feet with her bleeding hands. "If you love me," she said, "send him away. I refuse to see him." "You are hysterical," said Ted, "or else you're stark staring mad. I've spoilt you and given way to you till you think you can make any kind of fool of me. Get up at once, and cease this play acting, and come into the hall." "He's in the garden," I broke in. "You can pass through the hall, Essie." She rose to her feet, and her vehemence dropped from her. Her eyes were rivetted on Ted. She paid no heed to what I said. She had no attention to give to anything but her husband. "I will not come out," she said, and she sat down again on the divan. "Then by--he shall come in," said Ted, and before I could stop him he strode to the door, calling loudly to the Duke to enter.