"The low-bred hound!" he muttered. "This is his doing!"

Mabel halted at the stair-head, the blood suddenly and utterly
forsaking her cheeks when he spoke her name, although his address
was purposely kind, and, he thought, inviting.

"Can you spare me a moment?" he continued, smilingly, to win her
advance. "I will not detain you long. I know you are agonizing to
have your talk out, Miss Rosa."

Rosa laughed, with a saucy retort, and turned into her chamber.

Mabel entered her brother's, and without speaking, took the seat he
offered. She was to be sentenced, and she must reserve her forces to
sustain the pain without a groan.

"You saw Jenkyns--did you not?" began Mr. Aylett, with the manner of
one at peace with himself, and those of his fellow-men whose
existence he chose to acknowledge.

"I did. He made memoranda of your orders, and said all should be
done as you wished."

"I ordered the masons, this evening, to begin the hall-chimney
to-morrow. While the work is going on, you had better occupy some
other bed-room. I shall hurry it forward, day and night, or it will
not be done in season for us when we return from our bridal-tour.
The carpets must be down, and the paper dry by the fifteenth at
farthest. Clara bought your dresses, and offers to have them made,