and every slight remark was a presage of storm.  Hubert hoped the girl would say nothing until the servant left the room, and with that view he never spoke a word except to ask the ladies what they would take to eat.  These tactics might have succeeded if Mrs. Bentley had not unfortunately said that next week she intended to go to London for a couple of days.  ’The Eastwicks are there now, and they’ve asked me to stay with them.’

‘I think I shall go up with you.  I want to go to London,’ said Emily.

’It will be very nice if you’ll come; but we cannot both stay with the Eastwicks; they have only one spare room.’

‘I suppose you’d like me to go to an hotel.’

’My dear Emily, how can you think of such a thing?  A young girl like you could not stay at an hotel alone.  I shall be only too pleased if you will go to the Eastwicks; I will go to the hotel.’

Emily’s lip quivered, and in the irritating silence both Hubert and Mrs. Bentley saw that she was trying to overcome her passion.  They fervently hoped she would succeed; for at that moment the servant was handing round the wine, and the time he took to accomplish this service seemed endless.  He had filled the last glass, had handed round the dessert, and was preparing to leave the room when Emily said—­

’The hotel will suit you very well.  You’ll be free to see Hubert whenever you like.’

Hubert looked up quickly, hoping Mrs. Bentley would not answer, but before he could make a sign she said—­

‘What do you mean, Emily?  I did not know that Hubert was going to London.’

‘You hardly expect me to believe that, do you?’

The servant was still in the room; but no look of astonishment appeared on his face, and Hubert hoped he had not heard.  An awful silence glowered upon the dinner-table.  The moment the door closed Hubert said, turning angrily to Emily—­

’Really, I am quite surprised, Emily, that you should make such observations in the presence of servants!  This has been going on quite long enough; you are making the house intolerable.  I shall not be able to live here any longer.’

Emily burst into a passionate flood of tears.  She declared she was wretchedly miserable, and that she fully understood that Hubert had begun to regret that he had asked her to stay at Ashwood.  Everything had been taken from her; every one was against her.  Her sobs shook her frail little frame as if they would break it, and Hubert’s heart was wrung at the sight of such genuine suffering.

‘My dear Emily, I assure you you are mistaken.  We both love you very much.’  He got up from his chair, and, putting his arm about her, besought her to dry her eyes; but she shook him passionately from her, and fled from the room.