Carr knows that it has
nearly killed me: my wife knows it."
"Yes, you could tell her things, and keep the diabolical secret from poor
Maude and from me," she returned, rather inconsistently. "I don't doubt
you and your wife have exulted enough over it."
"I never knew it until to-night," said Anne, gently turning to the
dowager. "It has grieved me deeply. I shall never cease to feel for your
daughter's wrongs; and it will only make me more tender and loving to her
child. The world will never know that she is not Lady Maude."
"And the other name--Elster--because you know she has no right to it,"
was the spiteful retort. "I wish to my heart you had been drowned in your
brother's place, Lord Hartledon; I wished it at the time."
"I know you did."
"You could not then have made fools of me and my dear daughter; and the
darling little cherub in the churchyard would have been the real heir.
There'd have been a good riddance of you."
"It might have been better for me in the long run," said he, quietly,
passing over the inconsistencies of her speech. "Little peace or
happiness have I had in living. Do not let us recriminate, Lady Kirton,
or on some scores I might reproach you. Maude loved my brother, and you
knew it; I loved Miss Ashton, and you knew that; yet from the very hour
the breath was out of my brother's body you laid your plans and began
your schemes upon me.
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