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He was as rich； or richer； than ever。 He was as well…connected as
ever。 He was as ambitious as ever。 But there it ended。 He stood
still in the House； he stood still in society； nobody liked him；
he made no friends。 It was all the old story over again； with
this difference； that the soured man was sourer； the gray head；
grayer； and the irritable temper more unendurable than ever。 His
wife had her rooms in the house and he had his； and the
confidential servants took care that they never met on the
stairs。 They had no children。 They only saw each other at their
grand dinners and balls。 People ate at their table； and danced on
their floor； and compared notes afterward； and said how dull it
was。 Step by step the man who had once been Mr。 Vanborough's
lawyer rose； till the peerage received him； and he could rise no
longer； while Mr。 Vanborough； on the lower round of the ladder；
looked up； and noted it； with no more chance （rich as he was and
well…connected as he was） of climbing to the House of Lords than
your chance or mine。
The man's career was ended； and on the day when the nomination of
the new peer was announced； the man ended with it。
He laid the newspaper aside without making any remark； and went
out。 His carriage set him down； where the green fields still
remain； on the northwest of London； near the foot…path which
leads to Hampstead。 He walked alone to the villa where he had
once lived with the woman whom he had so cruelly wronged。 New
houses had risen round it； part of the old garden had been sold
and built on。 After a moment's hesitation he went to the gate and
rang the bell。 He gave the servant his card。 The servant's master
knew the name as the name of a man of great wealth； and of a
Member of Parliament。 He asked politely to what fortunate
circumstance he owed the honor of that visit。 Mr。 Vanborough
answered； briefly and simply； 〃I once lived here； I have
associations with the place with which it is not necessary for me
to trouble you。 Will you excuse what must seem to you a very
strange request？ I should like to see the dining…room again； if
there is no objection； and if I am disturbing nobody。〃
The 〃strange requests〃 of rich men are of the nature of
〃privileged communications；〃 for this excellent reason； that they
are sure not to be requests for money。 Mr。 Vanborough was shown
into the dining…room。 The master of the house； secretly
wondering； watched him。
He walked straight to a certain spot on the carpet； not far from
the window that led into the garden； and nearly opposite the
door。 On that spot he stood silently； with his head on his
breastthinking。 Was it _there_ he had seen her for the last
time； on the day when he left the room forever？ Yes； it was
there。 After a minute or so he roused himself； but in a dreamy；
absent manner。 He said it was a pretty place； and expressed his
thanks； and looked back before the door closed； and then went his
way again。 His carriage picked him up where it had set him down。
He drove to the residence of the new Lord Holchester； and left a
card for him。 Then he went home。 Arrived at his house； his
secretary reminded him that he had an appointment in ten minutes'
time。 He thanked the secretary in the same dreamy； absent manner
in which he had thanked the owner of the villa； and went into his
dressing…room。 The person with whom he had made the appointment
came； and the secretary sent the valet up stairs to knock at the
door。 There was no answer。 On trying the lock it proved to be
turned inside。 They broke open the door； and saw him lying on the
sofa。 They went close to lookand found him dead by his own
hand。
VIII。
Drawing fast to its close； the Prologue reverts to the two
girlsand tells； in a few words； how the years passed with Anne
and Blanche。
Lady Lundie more than redeemed the solemn pledge that she had
given to her friend。 Preserved from every temptation which might
lure her into a longing to follow her mother's career； trained
for a teacher's life； with all the arts and all the advantages
that money could procure； Anne's first and only essays as a
governess were made； under Lady Lundie's own roof； on Lady
Lundie's own child。 The difference in the ages of the
girlsseven yearsthe love between them； which seemed； as time
went on； to grow with their growth； favored the trial of the
experiment。 In the double relation of teacher and friend to
little Blanche； the girlhood of Anne Silvester the younger passed
safely； happily； uneventfully； in the modest sanctuary of home。
Who could imagine a contrast more complete than the contrast
between her early life and her mother's？ Who could see any thing
but a death…bed delusion in the terrible question which had
tortured the mother's last moments： 〃Will she end like Me？〃
But two events of importance occurred in the quiet family circle
during the lapse of years which is now under review。 In eighteen
hundred and fifty…eight the household was enlivened by the
arrival of Sir Thomas Lundie。 In eighteen hundred and sixty…five
the household was broken up by the return of Sir Thomas to India；
accompanied by his wife。
Lady Lundie's health had b een failing for some time previously。
The medical men； consulted on the case； agreed that a sea…voyage
was the one change needful to restore their patient's wasted
strengthexactly at the time； as it happened； when Sir Thomas
was due again in India。 For his wife's sake； he agreed to defer
his return； by taking the sea…voyage with her。 The one difficulty
to get over was the difficulty of leaving Blanche and Anne behind
in England。
Appealed to on this point； the doctors had declared that at
Blanche's critical time of life they could not sanction her going
to India with her mother。 At the same time； near and dear
relatives came forward； who were ready and anxious to give
Blanche and her governess a homeSir Thomas； on his side；
engaging to bring his wife back in a year and a half； or； at
most； in two years' time。 Assailed in all directions； Lady
Lundie's natural unwillingness to leave the girls was overruled。
She consented to the partingwith a mind secretly depressed； and
secretly doubtful of the future。
At the last moment she drew Anne Silvester on one side； out of
hearing of the rest。 Anne was then a young woman of twenty…two；
and Blanche a girl of fifteen。
〃My dear；〃 she said； simply； 〃I must tell _you_ what I can not
tell Sir Thomas； and what I am afraid to tell Blanche。 I a