Ridiculous as it may appear, a pang of jealousy shot through the married flirt’s heart that made her almost feel sick.  This was followed at the interval of half a second by as pretty a flame of hatred as ever the spretoe injuria formoe lighted up in a coquette’s heart.  Doubt drove in its smaller sting besides, and at sight of the couple she resolved to have better evidence than Reginald’s, especially as to Lucy’s sentiments.  The plan she hit upon was effective, but vulgar, and must not be witnessed by a boy of inconvenient memory and mistimed fluency.  She got rid of him with high-principled dexterity.  “Reginald,” said she, sadly, “you are a naughty boy, a disobedient boy, to listen when your papa told you not, and to tell me a pack of falsehoods.  I must either tell your papa, or I must punish you myself; I prefer to do it myself, he would whip you so”; with this she suddenly opened her dressing-room door, and pushed the terrible infant in, and locked the door.  She then told him through the keyhole he had better cease yelling, because, if he kept quiet, his punishment would only last half an hour, and she flew downstairs.  There was a large hot-house with two doors, one of which came very near to the house door that opened into the garden.  Mrs. Bazalgette entered the hothouse at the other end, and, hidden by the exotic trees and flowers, made rapidly for the door Lucy and David must pass.  She found it wide open.  She half shut it, and slipped behind it, listening like a hare and spying like a hawk through the hinges.  And, strange as it may appear, she had an idea she should make a discovery.  As the finished sportsman watches a narrow ride in the wood, not despairing by a snap-shot to bag his hare as she crosses it, though seen but for a moment, so the Bazalgette felt sure that, as the couple passed her ambush, something, either in the two sentences they might utter, or, more probably, in their tones and general manner, would reveal to one of her experience on what footing they were.

A shrewd calculation!  But things will be things.  They take such turns, I might without exaggeration say twists, that calculation is baffled, and prophecy dissolved into pitch and toss.  This thing turned just as not expected. Primo, instead of getting only a snap-shot, Mrs. Bazalgette heard every word of a long conversation; and, secundo, when she had heard it she could not tell for certain on what footing the lady and gentleman were.  At first, from their familiarity, she inclined to think they were lovers; but, the more she listened, the more doubtful she seemed.  Lucy was the chief speaker, and what she said showed an undisguised interest in her companion; but the subject accounted in great measure for that; she was talking of his approaching voyage, of the dangers and hardships of his profession, and of his return two years hence, his chances of promotion, etc.  But here was no proof positive of love; they were acquaintances of some standing.