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Updated: May 8, 2025
Dyce listened with an air almost as engrossed as that of Mr. Gallantry, and, when his moment came, took up the conversation. "Mrs. Gallantry's suggestion," he said, "is admirable, and the sooner it's carried out, not merely in one place, but all over England, the better. But I rather think that, in the given circumstances, Lady Ogram took the wisest possible step.
Did I ever tell you how she is related to me? I call her my niece, but she is really the grand-daughter of my brother, who emigrated to Canada." Thereupon Lady Ogram sketched a portrait of that brother, depicting him as a fine specimen of the colonising Briton, breezy, sturdy, honest to the core.
Constance Bride came of gentlefolk, and needed only the favour of circumstances to show herself perfectly at ease in whatever social surroundings. She had a natural dignity, which, now he came to reflect upon it, he had always observed with pleasure. What could have been more difficult than her relations with Lady Ogram? Yet she had always borne herself with graceful independence. Poor girl!
He felt no sorrow, yet thought of her with a certain respect, even with a slight sensation of gratitude, which was chiefly due, however, to the fact that she had been so good as to die. Live as long as he might, the countenance and the voice of Lady Ogram would never be less distinct in his memory than they were to-day. He, at all events, had understood and appreciated her.
I hardly feel that I should be justified in repeating what passed between us. I hoped you had already heard it. Was it not from Constance that you learnt ?" "Don't begin to question me," broke in Lady Ogram, with sudden severity. "What I know, and how I know it, is none of your business. You'll have the goodness to tell me whatever I ask you." Dyce made a gesture of deprecating frankness.
But what did you talk about last night?" "Of very many things. Canada and Northampton, religion and crayfish, Huxley and Yabsley." "Yabsley? Who's Yabsley?" "A gentleman of Northampton, a man of light and leading, a great friend of Miss Tomalin's." "An old man, I suppose?" asked Lady Ogram, sharply. "Not quite thirty." "But married? Of course married?" "I didn't ask; but, I fancy, not."
Glad to stand up and move, Dyce did her bidding. Only a few moments elapsed before Constance Bride and May Tomalin entered the room. "Constance, come here," said Lady Ogram. "You" she glared at May "stand where I can have a good view of you." Lashmar had welcomed their entrance with a smile.
But I can assure you that it would have been a very unpleasant thing to have to tell Lady Ogram either that I couldn't take the step she wished, or that Miss Bride rejected me." "I can believe that," said May indulgently. "When I saw that she was making herself ill about it, I took the resolve to speak frankly to Miss Bride. The result was our pretended engagement."
Constance asked the question so directly, and with so keen a look, that she all but disconcerted the philosopher. "Oh, it grew out of my reading and observation grew bit by bit no armed Pallas leaping to sudden life " "You have worked it out pretty thoroughly." "In outline, yes." Dyce read the newspapers, and walked a little in the garden. Punctually at eleven, Lady Ogram descended.
Every hearer saw the application of this, and Lady Ogram had not long to wait before she read it in print. Her temper that day was not mild. She had occasion to controvert a friend, a Conservative lady, on some little point of fact in an innocent gossip, and that lady never again turned her steps to Rivenoak. But worse was to come.
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