that he must speak with Mrs. Mountstuart, however
he might shrink from the trial of his facial muscles. Her not coming to him
seemed ominous: nor was her behaviour at the luncheon-table quite obscure. She
had evidently instigated the gentlemen to cross and counter-chatter Lady Busshe
and Lady Culmer. For what purpose?
    Clara's features gave the answer.
    They were implacable. And he could be the same.
    In the solitude of his room he cried right out: »I swear it, I will never
yield her to Horace De Craye! She shall feel some of my torments, and try to get
the better of them by knowing she deserves them.« He had spoken it, and it was
an oath upon the record.
    Desire to do her intolerable hurt became an ecstasy in his veins, and
produced another stretching fit, that terminated in a violent shake of the body
and limbs; during which he was a spectacle for Mrs. Mountstuart at one of the
windows. He laughed as he went to her, saying: »No, no work to-day; it won't be
done, positively refuses.«
    »I am taking the Professor away,« said she; »he is fidgety about the cold he
caught.«
    Sir Willoughby stepped out to her. »I was trying at a bit of work for an
hour, not to be idle all day.«
    »You work in that den of yours every day?«
    »Never less than an hour, if I can snatch it.«
    »It is a wonderful resource!«
    The remark set him throbbing and thinking that a prolongation of his crisis
exposed him to the approaches of some organic malady, possibly heart-
    »A habit,« he said. »In there I throw off the world.«
    »We shall see some results in due time.«
    »I promise none: I like to be abreast of the real knowledge of my day, that
is all.«
    »And a pearl among country gentlemen!«
    »In your gracious consideration, my dear lady. Generally speaking, it would
be more adviseable to become a chatterer and keep an anecdotal note-book. I
could not do it, simply because I could not live with my own emptiness for the
sake of making an occasional display of fireworks. I aim at solidity. It is a
narrow aim, no doubt; not much appreciated.«
    »Lætitia Dale appreciates it.«
    A smile of enforced ruefulness, like a leaf curling in heat, wrinkled his
mouth.
    Why did she not speak of