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[NOW FIRST PUBLISHED,] BY MUTUAL CON- SENT. By J. MARSDEN 8UTCL!Ff E, Author of "The Bells of St. Barnabas, The Romance of an Insurance Office," "Revealed by Tire," &c., &o. TALL RIGHTS RKSERVRIM CHAPTER XrIr. tal Gent, Our deed. are fett:rs that we forge 2nd Gent. Ay, tTu^'but'l think it is the wort J Thdt brings the iron. N Univerai'y lance, [J /vJ lean "sported his /a\ aIIjTx oak" after tile depar- ture of hia viait0is* fftff In plain English, he shut himself np in £ ( \->^T)E( y^l ^'s "tu^10 an^ ^e" av' fl clined himself to « other callers ^that he j if .A J^lf fl wrath, v.iicL was | I JLf 1 i !i I great, VO J j Sj| || ("jivL M»^«n f I gl bau been brought up *11 with too much Spartan simplicity /py^ to endure with patience the emauou- i*tea manhood of the fashionable dawdler The bloo.-l of the old Covenanters that lan in hi* veic;. rendered him contemptuous^ ot m who, by their vioes, invite popular oc'lUr" their or ier. He'beld fast to the old m-xira Kobltsu Uigt, with the result that for n-enof the snam? 0f Sir Reginald Denison he k«It an instinct, e antipathy almost ainouiitn's* o loathing. The baronet's request be fai nisht to Wth t.h.- address of his model stirred the *"g«r tfcftt he felt on seeing a ot 1 e •mi relied reputation enter his studio to a white heat of fury. 'lhe P0*51!^1'^ °' ^inifred being,'subjected to the m ""Perfcinenceof Sir Reginald Denison acued fuel to the flame. In the mood in whicn he found himself after his visitors had leit n willingly have snatched at any fcX-u'e f°r giving the baronet a sound thrashing th Would cover him with bruises and leav« e\ciy b°ne in kis boa« Bore and aching. lie itii himself almost ready for homicide it bn chanced to return. # Curse the flow's impudence," lis exclaimed, iii IJ wrattu «• Hanging is too good for human vwmiu like him. He ought to be cut up into bits." Then a sudden thought caused Lim to boun «ut ol bis ohair. _f What a fool I am not to have houghtof »t before* he cried. "Lady loieiamP1^ will take him there, of course. bafc m natural, seeing that Lord l'olehampton h bought her picture, and has so gen interested himself in her °*re?r' k Denison who is still as black as they niaKe 'em, will soon know the address he was bo keen 'eizin* his tat, Cla«Whrf: fron, the house, banging the uoor behind h.w in his fierce impetuosity. wimfivrVs life The mjatery that hung over m'fiedIs lite during those three years concerning wh i »«.5oS»,V rettaont °"e%f,CU? it Claude's mind since bis visit toGlen-Orloc Christinas, though he wa» a« far fi-om satisfactory solution as ever. But bis faitu 'n tie purity of her nature did no ^«»I«tethe uncomfortable elemen ^at surrounded her. He never doubted that persoiial r««x» W'.d. red ■» for jjer 8j|ence the mterei of someone else occasioned ber "•eJTfe, and that whenever the curtain oame to be lifted her hidden past diac!oaed delation would bring her unblemished Pur'tj into 8fcti«ing relief. CUndo Maclean *as too a student of human ^aware ofthe manifold reasonsi that ^'gbt lead a virtuous woman to bury sad ^iniscenj o" the past in the oblivion of Sl5enoe, ne was too noble-minded to b 'eadily accessibie to suspicion regarding a y fe,r^n. it wag the working theory of life ^o t*ka human nature 011 trust until reasons foi !SUost were forthcoming, 0l 8ave Lia f^jth he gave it outright. B«t as he hurried along the "treets the ^estion forced itself on his mind, 'V 118 r Ikginald Denison bound up in any v.ay with the secret of Winifred's life? Was n Possible that the baronet bad contrived in aome rr/a;lner to 0t>tain some hold upon bei < Uaude recoiled from the bare supposition, but oe could not thrust from his mind the startled °ok of astonishment which Sir Reginald rayed when the curtain was withdrawn the pioture. Claude felt that the I00K not one of sorpri«ed delight in a work or Amazement, perplexity, and something *"at seemed like recognition were imprinted ?a 4be baronet'a face. It was this that troubled Claude. He felt that the mystery 8\jrronndt>d Winifred was tbiokeniug. and that the shadow of some great troub. that he was unable to define was gatbering round the path of the woman he loved with a devotion that nothing couid 5nen°h' A rapid walk of ten minutes brought bun, to' the ati-eet where Wimfreu lived. He, Arrived in"time to see the carriage coutiuu ng Lady Polehampto^u and Lady? iaa^^b Fefffnald followed in tue same direction at a Sffn^lv mce He fretted and fumed over tbe iuj that'ewued before th. one servant that Winifred kept opened the door in answer to hin imperative tnoak. # I. Mi- Wert .thorn, f- Ii..nq«.r^ breathleaa agitation; and without- waiting for a reply be pushed past the domestic and ture of bItterness in her cup was thf-, of had come to her ur.aw.res, too WW that it ent^lIs t0hf,r ^iife as she must have breast, and Ine n0t brought them to- lived it if 1 »>« p to art she had found gethf.rV fln if misery of Belf-iiitrospection a reher from the nxis d^iires never «a th. sharper rise superior to the nalar.ltre.taM o £ h„ sex.. „ n.ra* cpK th^re had come WiU. Z" Z' the ghost. to her a great. p • frcm th0 grave 1:1 of the past newly „m laid for ever, she which she had though tranquility. f,Hth,tthere w«a..0nd 0 h The appearance 01. Mr itegiuni" :r v0 roused all the faculties of her nature intense exercise. i'or the fiist realised to the full extent the b.ight tha had cast upon her life, and the great bliss that might have been hers but for the accidental meeting in tlic galleries of the Louvre years before, with all that followed upon that, fche -nbel!ed against the idea that her life was just 'what she bad made it. She could not p.ead with herself that she bad been reluctantly 1 r. into an unsu table marriage, but, 111 drawn into an un nQfc her in her youthful in- just to gaifeless trustfulness at the Ho- -ary of lib*, had grown in a herself on bearing But nndsmiled her old sweet] Claude's footsteps, and suiuea uc ( ^JTZynot win you by fair means I can carry you envoy by foul,» cried Sir Reginald, angrily. smile a3 she extended her hand in greeting. (iIam bo glad to see you, Mr. Maclean, she said. It is nearly a fortnight since you rere here [:nd I was feeling just now that the light of a friendly face would be welcome. « You have had visitors, I suppose said Claude, at a loss for an excuse to explain h's agitation, which he thought Winilred could E°»fyL*°Lady rdehampfon has been here with hev brother and Lady Isabel Childe. HI would have given a thousand pounds rather than this should have tapM^ Ulaude, with ill-suppressed anxiety. IJnf tunatelj'. that man Penison saw my Helen and there was an evil light in his eye,raStha! looked at the picture, I saw byhislooLthat he meant mischief. And now he has found the original I am full of all kinds of stianhe fears e<(l do not fear Sir Reginald Denison,' replied Winifred with quiet dignity. •* 1 ou need be uuder no apprehension on my 1C«w!nifrea;' »id Claud, sealing hin.^ hv her aide and taking her hand in his. 1 have been «!ent ^'lo^ my^drshodd frained from spe Winifred, and tell me pain you Look at me, VV m tbat you love me. I b9r where that since J knew you. You reme 1 Jn the was 1 lay unccngcious and dela hospital yonder, and it teems to me now ?„Tt o/oonsoious state 1 had dreams^of ft. nno-pis—of you, my own pure bright ang most of all. When first I oame to W*e vour beautiful face hovered near me, and tb hand that I am holding now soo hed ™y fevered brow in my weakness and pa n. have brought me back to life. I owe e\tr\ S to you. My whole heart >. yo"™ all mv hope Of happiness is m youi hands 'to fulfil or to destroy. Give^me «- totfLe'u oriy'a "'««•' S»y that you by pillowed on his breast, whilst ho kissed her again Winifred dared to he ,.F„rone hHe (he b|iM h d happy and to bel ,ay from her might ?reamfoi°e for her but the next moment her liein stoie foi b returned to her, and vanished sticc^t f claude's embrace she disengaged beraeir u and looked bim sorrowiu y cried. "I « Oh, Claude, forgn e m tQ ougbt to bave stoppe y {qy have listened t • \yhat vou hope has made me very weak. What > ou u i f¡ W bat do you mean r cried Claude. « you not love 111e ?" ,t i y0.°ra™Tnof«id.o?"«plioa mournfully; and then, flinging herself into his arms, she exclaimed: "Claude, Claude, my heart is breaking. I do love you with my whole heart and soul, but I cannot bo your wife. Say you forgive me." "Capitally acted, Lady Denison. J. said the last time we met that you would mako a first-rate actress." Sir Reginald, by judicious oribery and a little cajolery, had persuaded the maid to allow him to find his way to the studio un- announced, where he had arrived in time to hear Winifred confess her love for his rival. As their faces were turned from the door thev had not seen him enter, but on hearing his voice they rose from the couch on which thev were sitting and confronted him. Claude stood for a. moment contemplating Sir Reginald with heaving breast and dilating nostrils, and then nude as though he would tprine upon him, when a quick movement from Winifred arrested him. "Do not touoh feim, Claude. Vou shall not soil your hands Now, go—for my sake—go Do not be afraid tor me," she added,drawing herself up proudly. '• I do not fear this man. Go at once. Claude, and leave me to deal with this bar—this coward-this common gambler and cheat, iS I go at jour wish." said Claude, ou^ x re-call nothing of what I have said. I leave behind me the entire^ trust ot my whole heart." And darting a her? look of a^tred fit the baronet, he yielded to Wimfieds r^uues^ « But, though fco quitted the studio, m went no further than the drawing-room. *le determined tbat he would remain within call lest violence should be attempted on the woman he loved. There was one ray of light shining through the darkness that overwhelmed Claudes spirit. He knew the worst; he knew that the woman he loved v;a3 the wife of Sir Reginald Denison. Rut the discover? did not alienate her from him. Henceforth,. Jie vowed, his lips must be sealed upon the pas- sion that he cherished for Winifred. Cut h. felt that more than before she required to be shielded by the deep unutterable affection, that he bore for her from the tyranny of a villain; and, as he thought of the terrihle power that the English law Rives to a bad husband over his wife, Claude trembled foi Winifred's future.

CHAPTER XLV. Nty, look not big, nor stamp, nor stave, nor fret; I will bts master of wiji,t is mine own ,0, She is my goods, my chattel;)—she is my house, Iki v licKseiiold stuff, my field, my b,¡rn, My hurse, Tt,y ox. my ass, my anyllJing." Thus husband and wife found themselves alone together for the first time aiuce the separation at York by mutual consent. For a few seconds there was silence between them. They stood like two combatants pre- paring for a duel in which quarter would be neither given nor taken—Sir Reginald with his eyes fixed with a look of triumph on Winifred, who appeared, indeed, outwardly calm, though the quick, breathless expansion of her delicate nostrils and the hurried swell of her bosom told of the strong self-control she was exercising to restrain the emotions excited by the presence of her husband. The e xe, agitation* under which she was labouring immeasurably heightened her beauty and added fuel to her husband's desire to recover his lost dominion over her. The condition of the atmosphere wa,s grow- ing electrical when, at last, the silence was broken by Winifred:— What is the meaning of this intrusion ?,' she cried, her beautiful eyes flaming with resentment. "Softly, softly, my lady I" returned Sir Reginald, Your dramatio poses and abusive epithets are less to me than the idle wind. You have used some harsh language —but, there, let us say no more about that; I forgive you." You forgive me!" cried Winifred, scorn- fully. The forgiveness is on my aide, I think. My accusation is true. If you had not been a oommon gambler and oheat--if you had not tried to«jf«g me into countenan- cing your villainous practices—I would have remained your wife, though I know now that you have never taught my heart to love. I have called you a liar, and by what other term can you be described when you make a compact and break it P You agreed that if ever we were brought face to face again we should meet as strangers. You demanded that I-would not interfere with your plans, and you-pledged yourself not to interfere with mine. You required that I should renounce your name, and you swore a dreadful oath to leave me unmolested. How have you kept your word ? You are false and perjured, as all cowards are." It cost Winifred a severe struggle to re- press her outraged feelings and keep the tones of her clear, vibrant voice to the conversa- tional level. She had a horror of a shrewish tongue, and she felt that any external exhibi- tion of temper would have abased her in her own eyes. But she succeeded in keeping her- self well in hand, and the quiet, unflinching dignity with which she delivered herself of her passionate reproaches told on her hus- band even more than her words, and stung "'1 to the quick. ( &r Reginald felt that her aoousations were Kue, and every taunt that she had levelled against him was justified by bis perlidy. But he was beyond the reach of reason. The spell cast over him on seeing Claude Maolean's "Helen of Troy" had inflamed him with a mad longing to make his own the beauty that had created so muoh fever in his blood. The later discovery that the model who had sat to the artist was his own wife had not damped the ardour of his new-born longing. That reve- lation served only to point the way to a more rapid achievement of his wishes, and led him to congratulate himself on the good fortune that enabled him to dispense with the tedious formalities of a courtship with its uncertain results. The woman he coveted for his own was his wife,over whom the law gave him power to fulfil his will to the uttermost. Had he not the right to command her obedience ? The further discovery that Winifred's beauty surpassed all that Claude's picture had sought to convey acted like oil to flames, adding to the violence of his passions. Whilst he winced under her accusations like a cur trembling under the lash, the exquisite chisel- ling of his wife's face,which was of the purest Greek type, and the graceful curves of her fine figure that acquired a new and subtler charm from her endeavours to suppress the highly-wrought feelings under which she spoke, rivetted the fetters which held him a bond-slave to her supreme loveliness. As she stood before him with her eyes flashing, her Hebe-like freshness of complexion, and her superbly moulded form,tbe sense of her beauty intoxioated him, and the fire that raged within him manifested itself in a prolonged gaze of passionate intensity. Nor was this all. Sir Reginald Denison was filled with Airious jealousy of his wife. He had Reen her folded in the arms of Claude Maclean and her lips Itiased by him. He had heard her confess her love for the handsome painter, sven whilst she declared that there was an insuperable bar to their union. Only the feeling that he entertained for his personal safety 111 a phyiical encounter with the stal- wart artist, who to the beauty of a Greek god I wart artist, who to the beauty of a Greek god combined the frame of a Ileroules, enabled him to refrain troin the attempt to wreak his jealous enmity on the head of the man who had won his wife's heart. But be thought that the game was in his own hands, and that if he played his cards with care nothing could prevent him rising from the contest a winner. Winifred was his wife by the law of the Church and the law of the land. Though they had separated by mutual consent, and he had -made it a. condition of his assent to the arrange- ment that his wife should abandon his name, there had been no formal deed of sepa- ration drawn up between them. Winifred had nothing to rely upon cxoept his plighted word. She was within his power; he could olaim her, and the law would enforce his claim. But it waR not bis intention to take his stand upon his legal rights, unless all other means to induce hi", wife to return to him failed. Only in the last resort would he endeavour to establish bis marital rights over her on the legal basis, I His reflections were rapidly m^d^and h. i matnwr bUudenV; c^.i^cd. lie became less ¡ truculent, and when he epoke it was m tortus of,*u«v& apology and sorrowful regret that did full justioe to hisT possession of -the hi»* trionio gifts on which he had taunted his, wife. I admit everything," he said submissively. Do you understand ? Everything But though I acknowledge that I degraded you, and that if you had not broken away from me I might have dragged you down to my own level, you must remember that I -was not a free agent—that I was the victim of circum- stances. I abandoned you too lightly-selfish fool as I was, I thought only of gaining my freedom. And now I have broken my pledge to you. Why? Y oa may scorn my confession, but it is love that has compelled me to break our compact." Winifred listened to him patiently thus far, but when he spoke of love she silenced L L L. 1. I nun wim a gesture. I-'Lovt,- ? Do not speak to me of loi-e," she cried impatiently, "Does love tempt men to meanness and perjury P You know not what love is. You never can." "Perhaps not as-—as you understand it," said Sir Reginald humbly. We cannot all feel alike. You will allow thai ? Neverthe- less, I am not a stranger to love, as men know it. When I saw your picture 1 failed at first to recognise that it was meant for you." No j that is very probable," said Winifred coldly. "I am changed since you knew me." II Yes; that is true, but you are not so changed that my thoughts did not fly to you when I saw the picture. I was interested enough in what 1saw to resolve to seek out the model who had sat to the artist when for- tune directed my steps hither. I have come here now to sue where I might claim the right to command, because I have long since regretted complying with your wish. I have missed you more than words can say; for I have learned your value since we parted. I was a poor man in those days, living from hand to mouth-you know how. But to-day I have wealth at command, and am no longer driven to doubtful shifts to make a livisg, and I come to lay everything I have at your feet. At least you will acknow- ledge that my errand justifies this breach in the compaot. Let by-gones be by-gones. I know you do not love me, but give me a ohance of repairing the past." For a moment a shade of trouble passed over Winifred's face. The adroitness with which Sir Reginald pleaded his cause, accept- ing the whole blame for the unhappy past and acknowledging his desire to make atonement, disturbed her judgment. Was he sinoere? She confessed to herself that if she oould believe in bis sincerity, it might be her duty to re-consider her attitude towards mm, though she loved him not. But in an instant the memory rushed over her of the mocking tones of his voice and the taunts with which he announced his presence, and the light of malignant triumph in his eyes as she met hit gaze on becoming aware of his entrance into the room, and her brow that had become clouded over cleared again. "Yon have inflicted on me the most terrible wrongs," she said, with bitter emphasis. "Seldom has a woman suffered at the hands of a man what I have suffered from you. You speak to me now of reparation. The only reparation that you can make is to leave me free from molestation." II Try me again, and you will sec how different your I ife will be from what it was for- merly," said Sir Reginald, who was not dis- mayed by the refusal of his prayer. Wini- fred's hesitation had not escaped his atten tion. He interpreted it as a sign of yielding, and he considered that if he refused to accept a rebuff and continue to plead he must pre- vail. He advanced nearer to her, and made as though he would take her band. But Winifred drew badc, quickly gathering

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up her dress lest he should touoh her. Tho gesture of repulsion was Dot lost upon Sir Reginald, whose face took a sickly hue. He was chafing sorely within, but tried to control his rising anger. He had another shaft in his quiver, and he thought that the time had come to produce it. For the child's sake, Winifred," he urged, confident that in this one point his wife's armour was weak. "Let his memory be th. common bond to unite us again." But the expression of mingled horror and disgust that swept over Winifred's face con- vinced him that he bad overshot his mark. lie felt something as near to a sense of compunc- tion as it !,was possible for him to know, re- membering that he had borne no love for th« child, who had, indeed, been a thorn in hie «ida and over whose removal he secretly rejoiced; and he felt angry at his fatuity in striking a chord in Winifred's bosom so inimical to hit project. He saw by his wife's face that sho had forgotten nothing, and that he stood be- fore her unmasked, bis flagrant hypocrisi revealed, it How dare you make that appeal to me ?* she cried, her fingers tightening as she clenched her hands in pain. Now, leave me," she added, pointing wtth her finger to tiM door. But Sir Reginald, who saw his mistake when it was too late, stood his ground, deter- mined upon making an effort to retrieve hit error. ? "I am sorry I have touched an 011 wound," he said deprecatingly. I Qwn that I was in fault there, too, but if you will return to me there may be other chil- di-eii "Never," crleJ Winifred, passionately inter* rupting him, as the tide of her emotion thai she had exerted herself to keep back swept past her defenoes. "Love is impossibly between us. I do not believe a word of this feigned penitence. In the basis of youi character you are thoroughly bad, and pasS any power of mine to mend. If this had not been my feeling my life would not have been so wretched when with you, and 1 would hav( clung to you to the end, hoping, praying striving in all the waya in which a woman oat strive for your amendment. But my faitt was wreuked in you long ago, and cannot b( restored." Ît U 1 may not v I? you by fair means J !o*i| 'j if uuorjod-tijr Regif angrily, springing forward and seizinj her roughly by the shouldert. You ai* Lady Denison—my wife. It is time that this masquerading as Winifred West was put an end to," he added, all the worst passions of hi( nature aroused as he realised that he M humbled himself in vain. Release me—you are hurting me, orie4 Winifred, turning faint with pain. '• Take care you do not provoke me too far," he answered, as he withdrew his hands. I will not be played with. Yuu will come with me or I shall remain here." s Winifred looked straight before her in help less irresolution, siok at heart and dismayed by this attack. It flashed upon her that if was no idle threat that Sir Reginald Doniso* held over her. He had the law on his lide as matters stood. All he had to do was to laj claim to his own, and this he now proceeded to do. She watched him as he divested him. self of the light dust coat that he was wearing and proceeded to take a oigar from hit baud. some siller case. She stood before hinj motionless as a statue, in dire perplexity at the sangfroid with which he Struck a ma toll and applied it to bisoigar and prooeaded to make himself comfortable by throwing him* self full length on the couch, whilst he idly gazed on the blue smoke that curled from hit hp6 and ascended in spiral rings. Winifred felt like one dazed at the unrf expected turn things had taken. 91 Uh, if I had not asked Claude to leave me!" Ih. thought, with a sigh over her short-sighted- ness. She. did not know that Claude Maoleai was close at hand, and that by pulling th4 tasselled bell-rope she could at once summon him to her assistance. Sir Reginald Denison watohed Winifred with cool enjoyment over her discomfiture, He felt well satisfied with the masterly strok< he had played against a woman's defenoelesc weakness; and began leisurely to survey th| studio. race little room tnls," ne exclaimed attar a pause, "but you will like Alverihorpt better." The remark passed unnoticed, and Si. Reginald relapsed into silence. The stunnedi helpless feeling with which Winifred wit* nested her husband's determination to remain was beginning to pass away. Her mother wit taught her the necessity of gaining time/ If she could only obtain a respite, sha thought, she could esoape from him by flight;i Her husband showed no indisposition to hurry his wife's reflections until he grew uneasy at her long silenoe and the expression of stern resolution that stole into her face, f "Think better of it, Winny," he laiell breaking the long silence. "1 am your husbaud, and as suoh I am entitled to the sooiety of my wife. I claim my rights; that is all. It is your own obstinacy that compels me to put the matter in that light. If you will acknowledge my claims, I will spare n* effort to make you happy." You had your answer at York," wu iÍi I cold reply, given with a look of unmeasured contempt. II 1 would sooner die than be COlt strained to live with you again." « Well, here I am, and here I intend to ataj until you make up your mind to go down witt me to A Ivei-tborpe," Sir Reginald replied with an easy assumption of indifference. 111 shall certainly not accompany you tt Alverthorpe or elsewhere, and if you persist in remaining here against my wishes I must submit to your presenoe until I can find meani to ascertain my rights in the matter." Spoken like a sensible woman," oried Sil Reginald, with a jovial air. "You have m rights whatever, Married women don't havt rights. A husband can compel his wife to livt with him. I don't want to employ force againW yoa, though the law wtwld justify it. I wquU