"As you know, I attended my father during those four years when he was dying, and although I don't want to say a word against him, seeing that after all he was my father, yet, I heard sufficient from his own lips to convince me that his life had been a vile one. Not even the fact that I was his child prevented him boasting in my presence of his horrible actions, and although I invariably left the room when he began to talk like this, I could not help overhearing more than I cared to." "I wonder you did not leave him altogether," said Sir Guy indignantly. "He was my father after all," she replied simply. "No one would stay by him except me, and I could not let him die alone, like a dog." Sir Guy shifted uneasily in his seat, finding a difficulty in making an answer. "No, I suppose you couldn't," he answered reluctantly; "blood's thicker than water, but still--you are a good woman, Alizon." Lady Errington smiled faintly and shook her head. "Don't put me on a pedestal," she said, a trifle bitterly, "or you will find your goddess has feet of clay after all. Well, about Mrs. Veilsturm. I need not tell you all I heard about her, but only this. That my father knew her--intimately--and that her life before she set up for a woman of fashion in England, was not all that could be desired." "Where did he meet her?" demanded Sir Guy abruptly. "In South America. She is a Creole, you know, and when my father knew her she was not married to Captain Veilsturm. She may have lived decently since she became wife and widow, for all I know, but when she was in South America----" Lady Errington broke off abruptly, and rose quickly to her feet. "How dare she call on me--how dare she?" "I daresay she thinks you know nothing about her," said Sir Guy, rising also. "She knows I am Gabriel Mostyn's daughter, and that ought to be enough to make her keep away from me." "But of what do you accuse her?" "I accuse her of nothing, at present," said Alizon, looking steadily at him. "I only tell you that she is not a fit woman to cross the threshold of Errington Hall, and she will not do so while I am mistress here." "What are you going to do then?" "I'm going to return the card she had the audacity to leave here, and write her a note forbidding her to call again." Sir Guy thought for a moment, and then spoke out. "You are the best judge as to whom you make your friends, Alizon, but if you do this Mrs. Veilsturm will demand an explanation, and there will be a row." Lady Errington paused with her hand on the door and looked back. "Mrs. Veilsturm will not demand an explanation," she said coldly, "but if she wishes for one I can easily satisfy her on that point. But while I am mistress of Errington Hall if that infamous woman dares to come here I'll have her turned out by my servants." "But she----"