and George Gordon made some punch; which rendered none of our heads the steadier.  At least I can answer for mine:  I was weak with the long illness, and not much of a drinker at any time.  There was a great deal of nonsense going on, and Gordon pretended to marry me to Agnes.  He said or read (I can’t tell which, and never knew then) some words mockingly out of the prayer-book, and said we were man and wife.  Whilst we were all laughing at the joke, the doctor’s old housekeeper came in, to see what the noise was about, and I, by way of keeping it up, took Agnes by the hand, and introduced her as Mrs. Elster.  I did not understand the woman’s look of astonishment then; unfortunately, I have understood it too well since.”

Anne was growing painfully interested.

“Well, after that she threw herself upon me in a manner that—­that was extraordinary to me, not having the key to it; and I—­lost my head.  Don’t frown, Anne; ninety-nine men out of a hundred would have lost theirs; and you’ll say so if ever I give you the details.  Of course blame attached to me; to me, and not to her.  Though at the time I mentally gave her, I assure you, her full share, somewhat after the manner of the Pharisee condemning the publican.  That also has come home to me:  she believed herself to be legally my wife; I never gave a thought to that evening’s farce, and should have supposed its bearing any meaning a simple impossibility.

“A short time, and letters summoned me home; my mother was dangerously ill.  I remember Agnes asked me to take her with me, and I laughed at her.  I arranged to write to her, and promised to go back shortly—­which, to tell you the truth, I never meant to do.  Having been mistaking her, mistaking her still, I really thought her worthy of very little consideration.  Before I had been at home a fortnight I received a letter from Dr. Mair, telling me that Agnes was showing symptoms of insanity, and asking what provision I purposed making for her.  My sin was finding me out; I wondered how he had found it out; I did not ask, and did not know for years.  I wrote back saying I would willingly take all expenses upon myself; and inquired what sum would be required by the asylum—­to which he said she must be sent.  He mentioned two hundred a-year, and from that time I paid it regularly.”

“And was she really insane?” interrupted Lady Hartledon.

“Yes; she had been so once or twice before—­and this was what the housekeeper had meant by saying she was with the doctor that her health might be watched.  It appeared that when these symptoms came on, after I left, Gordon took upon himself to disclose to the doctor that Agnes was married to me, telling the circumstances as they had occurred.  Dr. Mair got frightened:  it was no light matter for the son of an English peer to have been deluded into marriage with an obscure and insane girl; and the quarrel that took place between him and Gordon on the occasion resulted in the latter’s leaving.  I have never understood Gordon’s conduct in the matter:  very disagreeable thoughts in regard to it come over me sometimes.”