"What right has he to be at Hartledon, poking his nose into everything that does not concern him ?--what right has he, I ask ?" "The right of being Lord Hartledon's brother," carelessly replied Anne.
"It is a right he had best not presume upon," rejoined Lady Kirton.
"Brothers are brothers as children; but the tie widens as they grow up and launch out into their different spheres.

There's not a man of all Hartledon's guests but has more right to be here than Val Elster." "Yet they are brothers still." "Brothers! I'll take care that Val Elster presumes no more upon the tie when Maude reigns at--" For once the countess-dowager caught up her words.

She had said more than she had meant to say.

Anne Ashton's calm sweet eyes were bent upon her, waiting for more.
"It is true," she said, giving a shake to the purple tails, and taking a sudden resolution, "Maude is to be his wife; but I ought not to have let it slip out.

It was unintentional; and I throw myself on your honour, Miss Ashton." "But it is not true ?" asked Anne, somewhat perplexed.
"It _is_ true.