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ho would believe her if she veered round now； and avowed these protestations were false？ No； she found that she was in a sinking ship； one there was no chance of saving。
But one chance did she determine to tryan appeal to Alice。 Blanche Challoner's eyes were suddenly and rudely opened to the badness of the man； and she was aware now how thoroughly unfit he was to become the husband of her sister。 It struck her that only misery could result from the union； and that； if possible； Alice should be saved from entering upon it。 Would she have married him herself； then？ Yes。 But it was a different thing for that fair； fresh young Alice； /she/ had not wasted her life's best years in waiting for him。
When the family had gone to rest； and the house was quiet； Blanche Challoner proceeded to her sister's bedroom。 Alice had not begun to undress； she was sitting in a comfortable chair before the fire； her feet on the fender； reading a love letter from Sir Francis。
〃Alice； I am come to tell you a story；〃 she said quietly。 〃Will you hear it？〃
〃In a minute。 Stop a bit；〃 replied Alice。 She finished the perusal of the letter； put it aside； and then spoke again。 〃What did you say； Blanche？ A story？〃
Blanche nodded。 〃Several years ago there was a fair young girl； none too rich； in our station of life。 A gentleman； who was none too rich either； sought and gained her love。 He could not marry； he was not rich； I say。 They loved on in secret； hoping for better times； she wearing out her years and her heart。 Oh； Alice！ I cannot describe to you how she loved himhow she has continued to love him up to this moment。 Through evil report she clung to him tenaciously and tenderly as the vine clings to its trellis； for the world spoke ill of him。〃
〃Who was the young lady？〃 interrupted Alice。 〃Is this a fable of romance； Blanche； or a real history？〃
〃A real history。 I knew her。 All those yearsyears and years； I say he kept leading her on to love； letting her think that his love was hers。 In the course of time he succeeded to a fortune； and the bar to their marriage was over。 He was abroad when he came into it； but returned home at once； their intercourse was renewed； and her fading heart woke up once more to life。 Still； the marriage did not come on； he said nothing of it； and she spoke to him。 Very soon now； should it be； was his answer； and she continued to live onin hope。〃
〃Go on； Blanche；〃 cried Alice； who had grown interested in the tale； never suspecting that it could bear a personal interest。
〃Yes； I will go on。 Would you believe； Alice； that almost immediately after this last promise； he saw one whom he fancied he should like better； and asked her to be his wife； forsaking the one to whom he was bound by every tie of honorrepudiating all that had been between them； even his own words and promises？〃
〃How disgraceful！ Were they married？〃
〃They are to be。 Would you have such a man？〃
〃I！〃 returned Alice； quite indignant at the question。 〃It is not likely that I would。〃
〃That man； Alice is Sir Francis Levison。〃
Alice Challoner gave a start； and her face became scarlet。 〃How dare you say so； Blanche？ It is not true。 Who was the girl； pray？ She must have traduced him。〃
〃She has not traduced him；〃 was the subdued answer。 〃The girl was myself。〃
An awkward pause。 〃I know！〃 cried Alice； throwing back her head resentfully。 〃He told me I might expect something of thisthat you had fancied him in love with you； and were angry because he had chosen me。〃
Blanche turned upon her with streaming eyes； she could no longer control her emotion。 〃Alice； my sister； all the pride is gone out of me； all the reticence that woman loves to observe as to her wrongs and her inward feelings I have broken through for you this night。 As sure as there is a heaven above us； I have told you the truth。 Until you came I was engaged to Francis Levison。〃
An unnatural scene ensued。 Blanche； provoked at Alice's rejection of her words； told all the ill she knew or heard of the man； she dwelt upon his conduct with regard to Lady Isabel Carlyle； his heartless after…treatment of that unhappy lady。 Alice was passionate and fiery。 She professed not to believe a word of her sister's wrongs； and as to the other stories； they were no affairs of hers； she said： 〃what had she to do with his past life？〃
But Alice Challoner did believe； her sister's earnestness and distress； as she told the tale； carried conviction with them。 She did not very much care for Sir Francis； he was not entwined round her heart； as he was round Blanche's； but she was dazzled with the prospect of so good a settlement in life； and she would not give him up。 If Blanche broke her heartwhy； she must break it。 But she need not have mixed taunts and jeers with her refusal to believe； she need not have /triumphed/ openly over Blanche。 Was it well done？ Was it the work of an affectionate sister！ As we sow； so shall we reap。 She married Sir Francis Levison； leaving Blanche to her broken heart； or to any other calamity that might grow out of the injustice。 And there sat Lady Levison now； her three years of marriage having served to turn her love for Sir Francis into contempt and hate。
A little boy； two years old； the only child of the marriage； was playing about the room。 His mother took no notice of him； she was buried in all…absorbing thoughtthought which caused her lips to contract； and her brow to scowl。 Sir Francis entered； his attitude lounging； his air listless。 Lady Levison roused herself； but no pleasant manner of tone was hers； as she set herself to address him。
〃I want some money；〃 she said。
〃So do I；〃 he answered。
An impatient stamp of the foot and a haughty toss。 〃And I must have it。 I /must/。 I told you yesterday that I must。 Do you suppose I can go on； without a sixpence of ready money day after day？〃
〃Do you suppose it is of any use to put yourself in this fury？〃 retorted Sir Francis。 〃A dozen times a week do you bother me for money and a dozen times do I tell you I have got none。 I have got none for myself。 You may as well ask that baby for money as ask me。〃
〃I wish he had never been born！〃 passionately uttered Lady Levison； 〃unless he had had a different father。〃
That the last sentence； and the bitter scorn of its tone； would have provoked a reprisal from Sir Francis； his flashing countenance betrayed。 But at that moment a servant entered the room。
〃I beg your pardon； sir。 That man； Brown； forced his way into the hall； and〃
〃I can't see himI won't see him！〃 interrupted Sir Francis backing to the furthest corner of the room； in what looked very like abject terror； as if he had completely lost his presence of mind。 Lady Levison's lips curled。
〃We got rid of him； sir； after a dreadful deal of trouble； I was about to say； but while the door was open in the dispute； Mr。 Meredith entered。 He has gone into the library； sir； and vows he won't stir till he sees you； whether you are sick or well。〃
A moment's pause； a half…muttered oath； and the Sir Francis quitted the room。 The servant retired； and Lady Levison caught up her child。
〃Oh； Franky dear；〃 she wailed forth； burying her face in his warm neck。 〃I'd leave him for good and all； if I dared； b