There followed no exchange of letters. From that hour to this the
two had in no way communicated. Mr. Bride, somewhat offended by what
he had seen and surmised of Mr. and Mrs. Lashmar's disposition, held
no correspondence with the vicar of Alverholme; his wife had never
been on friendly terms with Mrs. Lashmar. How Dyce thought of that
singular incident it was impossible to infer from his demeanour;
Constance might well have supposed that he had forgotten all about
it.

"Is your work interesting?" were his next words. "What does Lady
Ogram go in for?"

"Many things."

"You prefer it to the other work?"

"It isn't so hard, and it's much more profitable."

"By the bye, who is Lady Ogram?" asked Dyce, with a smiling glance.

"A remarkable old lady. Her husband died ten years ago; she has no
children, and is very rich. I shouldn't think there's a
worse-tempered person living, yet she has all sorts of good
qualities. By birth, she belongs to the working class; by
disposition she's a violent aristocrat. I often hate her; at other
times, I like her very much."

Dyce listened with increasing attention.

"Has she any views?" he inquired.