provide for her amply. And now, as to Coryston--"

She turned to him, facing him magnificently, though not, as Marcia was
certain, without trepidation. Coryston flung back his head with a laugh.

"Ah, now we come to it!" he said. "The rest was all 'but leather and
prunella.'"

James murmured, "Corry--old man?" Marcia flushed angrily.

"Coryston also knows very well," said Lady Coryston, coldly, "that
everything he could possibly have claimed--"

"Short of the estates--which were my right," put in Coryston, quietly, with
an amused look.

His mother went on without noticing the interruption:

"--would have been his--either now or in due time--if he would only have
made certain concessions--"

"Sold my soul and held my tongue?--quite right!" said Coryston. "I have
scores of your letters, my dear mother, to that effect."

Lady Coryston slightly raised her voice, and for the first time it betrayed
emotion.

"If he would, in simple decent respect to his father's memory and
consideration of his mother's feelings, have refrained from attacking his
father's convictions--"