’I keep no watch on you.  As I came into the house, I saw your letter lying in the hall.’

‘Very well.  You could have read it if you pleased.’

’Emily, this matter is becoming very serious, and I strongly advise you to be on your guard in what you say.  I will bear much for you, and much for our boy; but I will not bear to have my name made a reproach.’

‘Sir, if you think your name is shamed by me, we had better part,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, rising from her chair, and confronting him with a look before which his own almost quailed.

‘It may be that we had better part,’ he said, slowly.  ’But in the first place I wish you to tell me what were the contents of that letter.’

’If it was there when you came in, no doubt it is there still.  Go and look at it.’

’That is no answer to me.  I have desired you to tell me what are its contents.’

’I shall not tell you.  I will not demean myself by repeating anything so insignificant in my own justification.  If you suspect me of writing what I should not write, you will suspect me also of lying to conceal it.’

‘Have you heard from Colonel Osborne this morning?’

‘I have.’

‘And where is his letter?’

‘I have destroyed it.’

Again he paused, trying to think what he had better do, trying to be calm.  And she stood still opposite to him, confronting him with the scorn of her bright angry eyes.  Of course, he was not calm.  He was the very reverse of calm.  ‘And you refuse to tell me what you wrote,’ he said.

‘The letter is there,’ she answered, pointing away towards the door.  ‘If you want to play the spy, go and look at it for yourself.’

‘Do you call me a spy?’

’And what have you called me?  Because you are a husband, is the privilege of vituperation to be all on your side?’

‘It is impossible that I should put up with this,’ he said ’quite impossible.  This would kill me.  Anything is better than this.  My present orders to you are not to see Colonel Osborne, not to write to him or have any communication with him, and to put under cover to me, unopened, any letter that may come from him.  I shall expect your implicit obedience to these orders.’

‘Well go on.’

‘Have I your promise?’

’No no.  You have no promise.  I will make no promise exacted from me in so disgraceful a manner.’

‘You refuse to obey me?’

‘I will refuse nothing, and will promise nothing.’

’Then we must part—­that is all.  I will take care that you shall hear from me before tomorrow morning.’

So saying, he left the room, and, passing through the hall, saw that the letter had been taken away.

CHAPTER XI

LADY MILBOROUGH AS AMBASSADOR

‘Of course, I know you are right,’ said Nora to her sister ’right as far as Colonel Osborne is concerned; but nevertheless you ought to give way.’