down beside her at the piano, and pointing out with his right hand
some passage which had troubled him, had placed his left arm on her
shoulder, and round her neck, she not resisting. He always swore
afterwards that never till then had such a familiarity as this been
permitted, and I believe that he did not tell a lie. But what was
there in that familiarity? The worst was already there, and it was
through a mere accident that it never showed itself. The accident
was this. The squire, for some unknown reason, had returned earlier
than usual, and dismounting in the stable-yard, had walked round the
garden on the turf which came close to the windows of the ground
floor. Passing the drawing-room window, and looking in by the edge
of the drawn-down blind, he saw his wife and Clem just at the moment
described. He slipped round to the door, took off his boots so that
he might not be heard, and as there was a large screen inside the
room he was able to enter it unobserved. Clem caught sight of him
just as he emerged from behind the screen, and started up instantly
in great confusion, the lady, with greater presence of mind,
remaining perfectly still. Without a word the squire strode up to
Clem, struck out at him, caught him just over the temple, and felled
him instantaneously. He lay for some time senseless, and what passed
between husband and wife I cannot say. After about ten minutes,
perhaps, Clem came to himself; there was nobody to be seen; and he
managed to get up and crawl home. He told his wife he had met with
an accident; that he would go to bed, and that she should know all
about it when he was better. His forehead was dressed, and to bed he
went. That night Mrs. Butts had a letter. It ran as follows:-


"MADAM,--It may at first sight seem a harsh thing for me to write and
tell you what I have to say, but I can assure you I do not mean to be