Nevertheless, as if at last, though late in the day, she must begin to teach her daughter the duty of a married woman, from the moment he arrived, taken ill on the way, Lady Malice, regardless of the brusqueness with which he treated her from the first, devoted herself to him with an attention she had never shown her husband.

She was the only one who manifested any appearance of affection for him, and the only one of the family for whom, in return, he came to show the least consideration.

Rough he was, even to her, but never, except when in absolute pain, rude as to everybody in the house besides.

At times, one might have almost thought he stood in some little awe of her.

Every night, after his man was gone, she would visit him to see that he was left comfortable, would tuck him up as his mother might have done, and satisfy herself that the night-light was shaded from his eyes.