’She is better than you, Augusta.  It was not her beauty that won me, but something nobler and rarer than beauty:  it was her perfect nature.  The more faulty we are ourselves, the more fondly we cling to a good woman.  But I don’t want to say hard things, Augusta.  Pray let us put all this folly aside at once and for ever.  You took your course in the past, and it has landed you in a very prosperous position.  Let me take mine in the present, and let us be friends, if possible.’

’You know that it is not possible.  We must be all the world to each other, or the bitterest enemies.’

‘I shall never be your enemy, Mrs. Darrell.’

’But I am yours; yes, I am yours from this night, and hers.  You think I can look on tamely, and see you devoted to that girl!  I have only been playing a part.  I thought it was in my power to win you back.’

All this was said with a kind of passionate recklessness, as if the speaker, having suddenly thrown off her mask, scarcely cared how utterly she degraded herself.

’Good-night, Mrs. Darrell.  You will think of these things more wisely to-morrow.  Let us be civil to each other, at least, while circumstances bring us together; and for God’s sake be kind to your stepdaughter!  Do not think of her as a rival; my love for you had died long before I saw her.  You need bear no malice against her on that account.  Good-night.’

‘Good-night.’

I heard the drawing-room door open and shut, and knew that he was gone.  I walked on past the open windows, not caring if Mrs. Darrell saw me.  It might be better for Milly, perhaps, that she should know I had heard her secret, and had been put upon my guard.  But I do not think she saw me.

It was about a quarter of an hour later when I went in, and it was quite dark by that time.  In the hall I met Mrs. Darrell, dressed for walking.

‘I am going round the shrubberies, Miss Crofton,’ she said.  ’Insupportably close to-night, is it not?  I think we shall all have the fever if this weather lasts.’

She did not wait for my answer, but passed out quickly.  I went back to Milly’s room, and found her still sleeping peacefully.  Ten minutes afterwards I heard the rain beating against the windows, and knew that it had set in for a wet night.

‘Mrs. Darrell will not be able to go far,’ I thought.

I sat by the bedside for some time thinking of what I had heard.  It was something to have had so strong a proof of Angus Egerton’s loyalty to my dear girl; and assured of that, I did not fear Mrs. Darrell’s malice.  Yet I could not help wishing that the marriage had been appointed for an earlier date, and that the time which stepmother and daughter were to spend together had been shorter.

Milly woke, and sat up for about half an hour, supported by pillows, to take a cup of tea, while I talked to her a little about the pleasantest subjects I could think of.  She asked if Mr. Egerton had been at Thornleigh that evening.