Lady Janet, still touching her arm, felt it tremble.

"What is the matter with you ?" she asked, in her abrupt, downright manner.
"I am only very grateful to your ladyship--that is all." The words were spoken faintly, in broken tones.

The face was still averted from Lady Janet's view.

"What have I said to provoke this ?" wondered the old lady.
"Is she in the melting mood to-day?
If she is, now is the time to say a word for Horace!" Keeping that excellent object in view, Lady Janet approached the delicate topic with all needful caution at starting.
"We have got on so well together," she resumed, "that it will not be easy for either of us to feel reconciled to a change in our lives.

At my age, it will fall hardest on me.