Having established Life as the coldly malignant element, which induces to what it chastises, a loathing of womanhood, the deputed Mother of Life, ensues, by natural sequence.  And if there be one among women who disturbs the serenity we choose to think our due, she wears for us the sinister aspect of a confidential messenger between Nemesis and the Parcae.  Fleetwood was thus compelled to regard Carinthia as both originally and successively the cause of his internal as well as his exterior discomfort; otherwise those glimpses would have burnt into perpetual stigmas.  He had also to get his mind away from her.  They pleaded against him volubly with the rising of her image into it.

His manager at the mines had sent word of ominous discontent down there.  His presence might be required.  Obviously, then, the threatened place was unfitting for the Countess of Fleetwood.  He despatched a kind of order through Mr. Howell Edwards, that she should remove to Esslemont to escape annoyances.  Esslemont was the preferable residence.  She could there entertain her friends, could spend a pleasanter time there.

He waited for the reply; Edwards deferred it.

Were they to be in a struggle with her obstinate will once more?

Henrietta was preparing to leave London for her dismal, narrow, and, after an absence, desired love-nest.  The earl called to say farewell, cool as a loyal wife could wish him to be, admiring perforce.  Marriage and maternity withdrew nothing—­added to the fair young woman’s bloom.

She had gone to her room to pack and dress.  Livia received him.  In the midst of the casual commonplaces her memory was enlightened.

‘Oh,’ said she, and idly drew a letter out of a blottingpad, ’we have heard from Wales.’  She handed it to him.

Before he knew the thing he did, he was reading: 

’There is no rest foamy brother, and I cannot help; I am kept so poor I have not the smallest of sums.  I do not wish to leave Wales—­the people begin to love me; and can one be mistaken?  I know if I am loved or hated.  But if my lord will give me an allowance of money of some hundreds, I will do his bidding; I will leave England or I will go to Esslemont; I could say—­to Mr. Woodseer, in that part of London.  He would not permit.  He thinks me blacked by it, like a sweepboy coming from a chimney; and that I have done injury to his title.  No, Riette, to be a true sister, I must bargain with my lord before I submit.  He has not cared to come and see his little son.  His boy has not offended him.  There may be some of me in this dear.  I know whose features will soon show to defend the mother’s good name.  He is early my champion.  He is not christened yet, and I hear it accuse me, and I am not to blame,—­I still wait my lord’s answer.’

‘Don’t be bothered to read the whole,’ Livia had said, with her hand out, when his eyes were halfway down the page.

Fleetwood turned it, to read the signature:  ‘Janey.’