CHAPTER XXI

Lady Ogram’s life had been much guided by superstition.  No one knew it, or suspected it, for this was among the tokens of her origin which she carefully kept out of sight.  Through all the phases of her avowed belief, she remained subject to a private religion of omens and auspices, which frequently influenced her conduct.  Thus, she would long ago have brought forth and displayed that marble visage of her beauty in its prime, but for a superstitious fear which withheld her.  On the night before Sir Quentin’s death, she dreamt that she ascended to the garret, took the bust in her arms, and carried it downstairs.  Many years went by, and again she had the same dream; the next day her first serious illness fell upon her, and, remembering the vision, she gave herself up for lost; but the sign this time had less than fatal significance.  Now once more, on the Sunday night of the present week, she seemed to enter the locked garret, and to carry away the marble.  All Monday she lived in a great dread, but at evening came the news that her arch-enemy was no more, and behold the vision explained!

On Monday night she dreamt not at all, being kept awake by exultation in what had happened and forecast of triumphs soon to be enjoyed.  But her thoughts turned constantly to the graven image which she longed to see, and, by a process of reasoning natural to such a mind as hers, she persuaded herself that now was the moment to fulfil her desire.  The bust once brought down, she would not again dream of going to seek it, and, consequently, it could not serve again to augur evil.  Not without tremors, she executed her resolve, and, the thing once done, her joy was boundless.  Looking on that marble face, she seemed to recover something of the strength and spirit it had immortalised.  Notwithstanding her restless night, she felt so clear in mind, so well in body, that the forebodings which had perturbed her since her exhausting visit to London were quite dismissed.  To-day Lord Dymchurch was coming; to-morrow May’s betrothal would be a fact to noise abroad.  She would then summon Kerchever, and in the presence of Sir William Amys, the trusty friend sure to outlive her, would complete that last will and testament which was already schemed out.  Twice already had she executed a will, the second less than a year ago.  When in town, she had sufficiently discussed with her man of law the new situation brought about by her discovery of May Tomalin; but the hope which she connected with Lord Dymchurch bade her postpone awhile the solemn signature.  All had come to pass even as she desired, as she resolved it should.  To the end she was supreme in her own world.