There had been a suggestion that the child should be with her, but the mother herself had rejected this.

‘It would be stagey,’ she had said, ’and clap-trap.  There is nothing I hate so much as that.’

She was sitting, therefore, quite alone, and as stiff as a man in armour, when Lady Milborough was shown up to her.

And Lady Milborough herself was not at all comfortable as she commenced the interview.  She had prepared many wise words to be spoken, but was not so little ignorant of the character of the woman with whom she had to deal, as to suppose that the wise words would get themselves spoken without interruption.  She had known from the first that Mrs Trevelyan would have much to say for herself, and the feeling that it would be so became stronger than ever as she entered the room.  The ordinary feelings between the two ladies were cold and constrained, and then there was silence for a few moments when the Countess had taken her seat.  Mrs Trevelyan had quite determined that the enemy should fire the first shot.

‘This is a very sad state of things,’ said the Countess.

‘Yes, indeed, Lady Milborough.’

‘The saddest in the world and so unnecessary is it not?’

‘Very unnecessary, indeed, as I think.’

‘Yes, my dear, yes.  But, of course, we must remember.’

Then Lady Milborough could not clearly bring to her mind what it was that she had to remember.

’The fact is, my dear, that all this kind of thing is too monstrous to be thought of.  Goodness, gracious, me; two young people like you and Louis, who thoroughly love each other, and who have got a baby, to think of being separated!  Of course it is out of the question.’

’You cannot suppose, Lady Milborough, that I want to be separated from my husband?’

’Of course not.  How should it be possible?  The very idea is too shocking to be thought of.  I declare I haven’t slept since Louis was talking to me about it.  But, my dear, you must remember, you know, that a husband has a right to expect some sort of submission from his wife.’

‘He has a right to expect obedience, Lady Milborough.’

‘Of course; that is all one wants.’

‘And I will obey Mr Trevelyan in anything reasonable.’

’But, my dear, who is to say what is reasonable?  That, you see, is always the difficulty.  You must allow that your husband is the person who ought to decide that.’

‘Has he told you that I have refused to obey him, Lady Milborough?’

The Countess paused a moment before she replied.  ’Well, yes; I think he has,’ she said.  ’He asked you to do something about a letter, a letter to that Colonel Osborne, who is a man, my dear, really to be very much afraid of; a man who has done a great deal of harm, and you declined.  Now in a matter of that kind of course the husband—­’

’Lady Milborough, I must ask you to listen to me.  You have listened to Mr Trevelyan, and I must ask you to listen to me.  I am sorry to trouble you, but as you have come here about this unpleasant business, you must forgive me if I insist upon it.’