Harry had not spoken as he did to Sir Hugh without having made some calculation in his own mind as to the result of what he was about to say.  He did not, as regarded himself, care for his cousin or his cousin’s anger.  His object at present was simply that of carrying out Lady Ongar’s wish, and he had thought that perhaps Sir Hugh might not object to the proposal which his wife was too timid to make to him.

“It was a message from her sister,” said Harry, “sent by me.”

“Upon my word she is very kind.  And what was the message—­unless it be a secret between you three?”

“I have had no secret, Hugh,” said his wife.

“Let me hear what he has to say,” said Sir Hugh.

“Lady Ongar thought that it might be well that her sister should leave Clavering for a short time, and has offered to go anywhere with her for a few weeks.  That is all.”

“And why the devil should Hermione leave her own house?  And if she were to leave it, why should she go with a woman that has misconducted herself?”

“Oh, Hugh!” exclaimed Lady Clavering.

“Lady Ongar has never misconducted herself—­” said Harry.

“Are you her champion?” asked Sir Hugh.

“As far as that, I am.  She has never misconducted herself; and what is more, she has been cruelly used since she came home.”

“By whom? by whom?” said Sir Hugh, stepping close up to his cousin and looking with angry eyes into his face.

But Harry Clavering was not a man to be intimidated by the angry eyes of any man.  “By you,” he said, “her brother-in-law; by you, who made up her wretched marriage, and who, of all others, were the most bound to protect her.”

“Oh, Harry, don’t, don’t!” shrieked Lady Clavering.

“Hermione, hold your tongue,” said the imperious husband; “or, rather, go away and leave us.  I have a word or two to say to Harry Clavering, which had better be said in private.”

“I will not go if you are going to quarrel.”

“Harry,” said Sir Hugh, “I will trouble you to go down stairs before me.  If you will step into the breakfast-room I will come to you.”

Harry Clavering did as he was bid, and in a few minutes was joined by his cousin in the breakfast-room.

“No doubt you intended to insult me by what you said up stairs.”  The baronet began in this way after he had carefully shut the door, and had slowly walked up to the rug before the fire, and had there taken his position.

“Not at all; I intended to take the part of an ill-used woman whom you had calumniated.”

“Now look here, Harry, I will have no interference on your part in my affairs, either here or elsewhere.  You are a very fine fellow, no doubt, but it is not part of your business to set me or my house in order.  After what you have just said before Lady Clavering, you will do well not to come here in my absence.”

“Neither in your absence nor in your presence.”