completely out of the world as if she had been screwed down in her
coffin, and laid in her grave.

Lady Lundie's maid came into the room as Hester left it.

"Go up stairs to Miss Blanche," said her mistress, "and say I want her
here. Wait a minute!" She paused, and considered. Blanche might decline
to submit to her step-mother's interference with her. It might be
necessary to appeal to the higher authority of her guardian. "Do you
know where Sir Patrick is?" asked Lady Lundie.

"I heard Simpson say, my lady, that Sir Patrick was at the stables."

"Send Simpson with a message. My compliments to Sir Patrick--and I wish
to see him immediately."

* * * * *

The preparations for the departure to the shooting-cottage were just
completed; and the one question that remained to be settled was, whether
Sir Patrick could accompany the party--when the man-servant appeared
with the message from his mistress.

"Will you give me a quarter of an hour, gentlemen?" asked Sir Patrick.
"In that time I shall know for certain whether I can go with you or
not."

As a matter of course, the guests decided to wait. The younger men
among them (being Englishmen) naturally occupied their leisure time in
betting. Would Sir Patrick get the better of the domestic crisis? or