And tears welled up in Zara's eyes and her voice trembled, as she
thanked them and tried to smile.

"She was quite overcome, the lovely young lady," they told one another
afterwards, "and no wonder. Any woman would be mad after his lordship.
It is quite to be understood."

How they all loved him, the poor bride thought, and he had told them she
was a beautiful white rose. He felt like that about her then, and she
had thrown it all away. Now he looked upon her with loathing and
disdain, and no wonder either--there was nothing to be done.

Presently, he took her hand again and placed it on his arm, as they
walked through the long corridor, to the splendid hall, built by the
brothers Adam, with its stately staircase to the gallery above.

"I have prepared the state rooms for your ladyship, pending your
ladyship's choice of your own," Mrs. Anglin said. "Here is the boudoir,
the bedroom, the bathroom, and his lordship's dressing-room--all en
suite--and I hope your ladyship will find them as handsome, as we old
servants of the family think they are!"

And Zara came up to the scratch and made a charming little speech.

When they got to the enormous bedroom, with its windows looking out on
the French garden and park, all in exquisite taste, furnished and
decorated by the Adams themselves, Tristram gallantly bent and kissed
her hand, as he said:

"I will wait for you in the boudoir, while you take off your coat. Mrs.