She was little better than a child still--this pretty youthful matron
and mother. And with the sweet, pleading face uplifted, the big blue
eyes swimming in tears, the quivering lips, the pathetic voice, he did
what _you_, sir, would have done in his place--kissed and forgave her.




CHAPTER V.

IN THE TWILIGHT.


"No words can be strong enough to reprehend your conduct, Victor. You
have acted disgracefully; you are listening, sir,--disgracefully, I
say, to your cousin Inez. And you are the first of your line who has
blurred the family escutcheon. Dukes' daughters have entered Catheron
Royals as brides. It was left for you to wed a soap-boiler's daughter!"

Thus Lady Helena Powyss, of Powyss Place, to her nephew, Sir Victor
Catheron, just one fortnight after that memorable night of his wife
and heir's coming home. The young man stood listening in sullen anger,
the red blood mounting to his very temples. His Cousin Inez had
managed during the past two weeks to make his existence as thoroughly
uncomfortable as a thoroughly jealous and spiteful woman can. He had
flown at last to his aunt for comfort, and this is how he got it.

"Lady Helena," he burst forth, "this is too much! Not even from you
will I bear it. A soap-boiler's daughter my wife may be--it is the
only charge that can be brought against her. I have married to please