“Julie, dear, how late you are,” said Sophie, as though she were rather irritated in having been kept so long waiting for her tea.

“I am late,” said Lady Ongar.

“And don’t you think you are imprudent—­all alone, you know, dear; just a leetle imprudent.”

“Very imprudent, indeed.  I have been thinking of that now as I crossed the lawn, and found how dark it was.  I have been very imprudent; but I have escaped without much injury.”

“Escaped! escaped what?  Have you escaped a cold, or a drunken man?”

“Both, as I think.”  Then she sat down, and, having rung the bell, she ordered tea.

“There seems to be something very odd with you,” said Sophie.  “I do not quite understand you.”

“When did you see your brother last?” Lady Ongar asked.

“My brother?”

“Yes, Count Pateroff.  When did you see him last?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well, it does not signify, as of course you will not tell me.  But will you say when you will see him next?”

“How can I tell?”

“Will it be to-night?”

“Julia, what do you mean?”

“Only this, that I wish you would make him understand that if he has anything to do concerning me, he might as well do it out of hand.  For the last hour—­”

“Then you have seen him?”

“Yes; is not that wonderful?  I have seen him.”

“And why could you not tell him yourself what you had to say?  He and I do not agree about certain things, and I do not like to carry messages to him.  And you have seen him here on this sacre sea-coast?”

“Exactly so; on this sacre sea-coast.  Is it not odd that he should have known that I was here—­know the very inn we were at-and know, too, whither I was going to-night?”

“He would learn that from the servants, my dear.”

“No doubt.  He has been good enough to amuse me with mysterious threats as to what he would do to punish me if I would not—­”

“Become his wife?” suggested Sophie.

“Exactly.  It was very flattering on his part.  I certainly do not intend to become his wife.”

“Ah, you like better that young Clavering who has the other sweetheart.  He is younger.  That is true.”

“Upon my word, yes.  I like my cousin, Harry Clavering, much better than I like your brother; but, as I take it, that has not much to do with it.  I was speaking of your brother’s threats.  I do not understand them; but I wish he could be made to understand that if he has anything to do, he had better go and do it.  As for marriage, I would sooner marry the first ploughboy I could find in the fields.”

“Julie—­you need not insult him.”

“I will have no more of your Julie; and I will have no more of you.”  As she said this she rose from her chair, and she walked about the room.  “You have betrayed me, and there shall be an end of it.”