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regard herself as the sole prop that sustained the moral, religious, and social order in the place. When she had made up her mind that a certain course of action was right, she did it, regardless of dissuasion and comment.

As she looked at the woman before her, she was struck with the peculiarity of her eyes, which were as though double-irised. These strange eyes were now fixed on her, and their peculiarity sent unwittingly a thrill through her. She could understand how that Thomasine Morideg was said to have the evil eye, and be able to overlook,' that is to blight, men and beasts by the glance of these strange eyes.

The woman, looking at her, put her hands behind her back and untied her apron, held it before her, and shook it.

'I had good thoughts of you, lady,' she said, 'and kindly will, and I shake them out as I shake the dust from my apron.'

Then she turned her apron and bound it about her waist again, and said:

'And-lady-as I turn this apron so do I turn your fortune as was up to-day into down to-morrow. All your good fortune be gone from you and be changed into evil.'

She stepped aside and walked away, before Mrs. Curgenven had recovered from her surprise. In her place stood a stranger.

CHAPTER II.

A STRANGE FACE.

MRS. CURGENVEN had not observed this person before, owing to the servants passing and repassing, the volunteers flying about and running against each other in their efforts to make themselves useful in clearing the tables. These volunteers were farmers' daughters and wives, glad to oblige the wife of their squire. The stranger was a dark-haired, sallow woman, of about her own age, near thirty-five, with large, intelligent, expressive eyes, and with the lower portion of her face beautifully formed. Mrs. Curgenven could not recollect having ever seen her before, and the face was not one which, when once seen, was likely to be forgotten.

The first question the squiress put to herself referred to the position in life occupied by this stranger, that she might regulate her conduct towards her accordingly. Social standing was all-inall to Mrs. Curgenven. She addressed those of her own rank in

one fashion, those of a lower position in another fashion, and with nuances in her mode of address nicely adjusted to the several gradations on the social scale of those to whom she spoke.

Was this person before her a lady, a real lady, or not? The stranger did not look in the least like a farmer's wife. The delicate texture of the skin, the ivory complexion, were not such as were found among those who face all weathers on market days. The delicate lips, the fine chin, spoke of culture. Mrs. Curgenven studied the dress of the stranger. It was sad in colour, simple, well-made, but not fashionable. It was distinctly the dress of a lady, and as distinctly that of a poor lady. The keenly critical eye of Mrs. Curgenven detected signs of wearing out.

But how was it possible that a lady should thus intrude uninvited on private grounds? Mrs. Curgenven assumed an air of stiffness, threw a keep-your-distance look into her eyes, and said, 'May I ask whom I have the pleasure

'Mrs. Curgenven.'

The squiress made a slight bow.

'I am Mrs. Curgenven.'

'You misunderstand me.' The strange lady looked round, and-possibly without premeditation-drew off her left glove. The lady of Curgenven House saw a delicate hand, and on the third finger was the golden wedding hoop.

No one was near; no one could hear what was said. Those who were on the terrace were engaged with mugs and teapots, with empty cake-trays, and half-eaten dishes of bread and butter. "You misunderstand me,' repeated the stranger; 'I am Mrs. Curgenven.'

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'Mrs. Curgenven,' answered the strange lady. My husband is Lambert Curgenven.'

The blood rushed into the face of the squiress. She drew back a step, looked at the speaker from head to foot.

'This insolence-'

'Excuse me, it is the truth. Call Lambert.'

To hear her husband, the Squire of Curgenven, a DeputyLieutenant, a Justice of the Peace, called by his Christian name by one not authorised by tie of blood to do so, completely upset Mrs. Curgenven's judgment. She beckoned to Mr. Physic, whom she saw at some distance, to come to her aid. There boiled up in

her mind a feeling of wrath against her husband. This was what came of taking off his coat before folk! of poking and raking coals under a boiler! No wonder that

'Stay,' said the strange lady. Do not let us have a scene. I did not come prepared for that; I do not desire it. I had no intention of doing more than show myself, that Lambert might be prepared to act according to what is just and right.'

'How dare you speak of Captain Curgenven in this manner!' exclaimed the squiress, usually a cool and collected person, but now completely thrown off her balance by the audacity of the personage before her.

'I have the best possible right-I am his wife.'

Mrs. Curgenven beckoned vehemently, and Physic almost ran to her side.

'Mr. Physic, call the constable; there is here a person-either a lunatic or sent to insult me-that must be removed at once.' She turned to the stranger, Will you go? or shall I call in the police?'

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'I will not now leave till Captain Curgenven has been summoned.'

Mr. Physic looked from one speaker to the other; he did not in the least comprehend what was the situation.

'It would have been better,' said the stranger, that this matter were settled quietly. It was wrong in me, perhaps, to come here on such an occasion, but I thought to take advantage of the crowd and see Curgenven, about which I had heard, and to have the chance of meeting my husband, that he might be aware I was alive and prepared to assert my rights.'

An expression of astonishment and perplexity passed over Mr. Physic's face, he struck his hands together audibly.

'Madam!' said he, here come all the children and school teachers back from church. Good gracious! this is not a matter for such a moment.'

'I will have this insolent person removed. Call the constable, Tregaskis, I saw him somewhere on the terrace. On my own grounds to receive such an outrage! It is too monstrous!'

'I think,' said Physic, I really think, ma'am, we'd better not have the police here. I have no doubt this-this-lady will see the advisability of retiring.'

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'I will go,' said the stranger, and make no disturbance at all. It is not my wish to do so. Your position, madam, is a painful

one, and I would spare you confusion as much as possible, but I insist on being brought face to face with Captain Curgenven. You shall judge for yourself.'

Mrs. Curgenven interrupted her. It is unseemly; it is an impertinence. You shall not be brought face to face with the captain. I absolutely forbid it. If you do not go at once, of your own accord, I will have you removed by force.'

'I am not going till I have seen him or he has seen me. Permit me to seat myself on that garden bench. I will speak to no one. I will remain perfectly quiet, and then bring the captain this way-where he can confront me.'

'Call the constable,' said the squiress, imperiously.

'Allow me to entreat you,' urged Mr. Physic. May I have a word in private?'

'Certainly.' Mrs. Curgenven stepped on one side, and the agent attended her. She had reared her head and stiffened her back. Her colour was heightened. She was unaccustomed to be browbeaten and insulted-she, the squiress, the rector's daughter! And this insult was so gross, so unutterably repulsive.

'If you will suffer me to advise, ma'am,' said the agent. The first thing to be now considered is how to avoid a scandal.'

'The woman is mad. She has broken out of an asylum.' 'Possibly. But if what she says be heard, the tongues of the whole neighbourhood will be set wagging.'

'What do I care? The woman is a maniac. Who gives the slightest credence to the ravings of a lunatic?'

'It will save both yourself and Captain Curgenven a great deal of annoyance if you humour her craze-supposing it to be a

craze-

'It is a craze. I am surprised, Mr. Physic, that you should allow there is any doubt in the matter.'

"There is no saying, ma'am. Excuse my speaking what may be very unpleasant, but something may have occurred in the past for which no doubt Captain Curgenven is much grieved, and which may-I only say may-have caused this craze on the part of the female who is now occasioning unpleasantness. What we must endeavour to do is to get her away without any disturbance, and inquire into the matter afterwards.'

'But conceive!' exclaimed the incensed lady. "If what she asserts were true, what would I be? It is preposterous. She is mad. She is raving.'

'And a maniac is best managed by humouring. Let her seat herself as she proposes. Let Captain Curgenven be brought near, where she can see him and he can see her.'

Then there will be a scene.

outrageous acts.'

She will do the wildest, most

'Trust me. I will have the police brought near. she shall be removed at once, but I do not think it. your permission, soothe her, and persuade her to go.' 'But who is she? What is she?'

'I never saw her in my life before.'

If she does,

I will, with

And you know nothing about her? She can't have sprung out of the fountain, or dropped out of a rook's nest.'

'I have a suspicion.'

"What?' asked Mrs. Curgenven, turning sharply on the agent. He hesitated, regretted what he had said, and endeavoured to retreat from it. No-it is not right to say that. I assure you

ma'am, I have never seen her before.'

'And you know nothing about her?'

'Nothing.'

"Very well, I yield.'

Mrs. Curgenven and the agent turned to where they had quitted the stranger, and found that she had withdrawn and had quietly seated herself on the bench she had previously indicated. She was drawing on again her left glove.

A buzz of voices was approaching, above it rang out an occasional word of command in a hard masculine voice. The children were marching two and two from church to the terrace, and, as the singing had been put a stop to, were talking together in procession.

'Monkeyland' had been too much for the rector. He was afraid lest it should get into the papers. Accordingly in church he had scribbled on a fly leaf of his hymnal, 'No singing on leaving church, please,' and had torn it out and passed the order to the schoolmaster.

The strange lady was seated on the terrace in a garden-chair. The midsummer twilight from the north lighted her pearly white face. The brows were contracted and the lips tightly drawn together. She looked dreamily at the landscape.

The parklike grounds, of the most velvety grass-clothed sweeps, were studded with noble oaks, beech, and Scotch pines. The woods became dense about the base of the moors that soared up into the pure sky, crested with granite, and the foliage rolled

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