"It was horrible to her!" said his mother. "And to you. Yes, I knew it would right itself, and I am glad nothing passed about it between us." "So am I; she quite separates you from Cecil and Anne, and indeed all her anger is with Lady Tyrrell. She will have it there was malice in inciting her to shock old friends and annoy you--a sort of attempt to sympathize her into opposition." "Which had a contrary effect upon a generous nature." "Exactly! She thinks nothing too bad for that woman, and declares she is a serpent." "That's dear Rosamond's anger; but I imagine that when I occur to Camilla's mind, it is as the obstructive old hag, who once stood in her way; and so, without any formed designs, whatever she says of me is coloured by that view." "Quite possible; and I am afraid the sister is just such another. She seems quite to belong to Mrs. Duncombe's set. I sat next her at dinner, and tried to talk to her, but she would only listen to that young Strangeways." "Strangeways! I wonder if that is Susan Lorimer's son?" "Probably, for his Christian name is Lorimer." "I knew her rather well as a girl. She was old Lord Lorimer's youngest daughter, and we used to walk in the Square gardens together; but I did not see much of her after I married; and after a good while, she married a man who had made a great fortune by mining. I wonder what her son is like?" "He must be the man, for he is said to be the millionaire of the regiment. Just the match that Lady Tyrrell would like." "Ah! that's well," said Mrs. Poynsett. "From your point of view," said Julius, smiling. "If he will only speak out before it has had time to go deep with Frank!" CHAPTER IX Cold Heart At that very moment the two sisters in question were driving home in the opposite corners of the carriage in the dark. "Really, Lenore," was Lady Tyrrell saying, "you are a very impracticable girl." There was a little low laugh in answer. "What blast has come and frozen you up into ice?" the elder sister added caressingly; but as she felt for Eleonora's hand in the dark, she obtained nothing but the cold handle of a fan. "That's just it!" she said, laughing; "hard ivory, instead of flesh and blood." "I can't help it!" was the answer. "But why not? I'm sure you had admiration enough to turn any girl's head." No answer. Lady Tyrrell renewed her address still more tenderly--"Lenore, darling, it is quite needful that you should understand your position." "I am afraid I understand it only too well," came in a smothered voice. "It may be very painful, but it ought to be made clear before you how you stand. You know that my father was ruined--there's no word for it but ruined." "Yes." "He had to give up the property to the creditors, and live on an allowance." "I know that." "And, of course, I can't bear speaking of it; but the house is really let to me. I have taken it as I might any other house to let." "Yes," again assented Eleonora. "And do you know why?"