But the unhappy gentleman, who, by
courtesy, was supposed to direct the
fortunes of the great house of Leader, was to
find his position yet more and more perplexing
every hour. On that very night, Mrs.Leader,
returning home, flushed with attention
and fancied progress, attacked him impatiently,
and with a rudeness and roughness
to which even he had hitherto been
unaccustomed. Such a way as he had
behaved to Lady Seaman; like his stupid
blundering self. Who was he; what did he
mean by treating a lady of that condition
in such a fashion? There was a letter from
the family solicitors, Amos and Co.,
excusing themselves, and saying they really
could not get Mr. Leader to fix a time for
business, and that they would push the
matter on and have it finished off at once,
if difficulties were not thrown in their way.
Mr. Leader said he oould not find some
papers, a deed of 182— , and was promising
every day to look for them.

"Now," continued the lady, flaming in
her strange face, and giving way to passion,
"there must be no more of this. Who do
you take me for, that you can think of
humbugging me?" (She used this very
shocking word ) " You! What would
you be without me, with every one in
the place laughing at your poor, comical
little figure, trying to do the man of position?
Now see here, Mr. Leader, the thing
shall be done, and I say it shall, and
at once, without a week's more delay.
Will you find those papers to-morrow, or
shall I?"

"Well, well, yes; but, my dear, you
needn't get into this terrible state."

"If everything is got ready next week,
will you sign at once? Yes or no?"

The poor hunted little squire, shrinking
from this angry woman, could only say,
"Well, he would see in the morning."
"Yes or no?" " Well, yes. There."

Mr. Leader was then allowed to go,
flushed, cowed, but grumbling. It was growing
intolerable and perfect tyranny. When
he next saw Mrs. Leader, that queen was
all smiles and soothing graciousness, with
a seductive melancholy and interest on the
hyena face. Mr. Leader sulked a little;
but she was very rational and sensible,
apologised almost for her warmth; but she
was so harassed and worried, and her
miserable nerves, too! She knew very
well that she was making herself perfectly
odious and detestable to " his family." But
she did not care for that, she would do her
duty by him and his, and raise them in
spite of themselves.

CHAPTER IV. A TELEGRAM

On the next day all this bore fruit.
Mary, after breakfast, saw her father going
out in a nervous, skulking way. Mrs.
Leader proclaimed the business.

"You will be sure not to be late, dear,"
she said, sweetly. " Mr. Amos will wait
for you till twelve. I am going there
myself at four."

His daughter, when she met him again,
noted a change in him. He was fretful.

"It is too bad; nothing but Cecil's
bills pouring in on one. I am really not
bound to minister to his extravagance. I
have other and more worthy claims upon
me." Yet this was only dissatisfaction. His
heart was warm, and charitable, and affectionate,
as his daughter knew well. She
trusted to that, and could wait patiently.

Another week went by, and Mr. and
Mrs. Leader were actually invited to dine,
and go on a visit of three days—all through
the Seaman interest or friendship— with
Lord and Lady Mantower. This was indeed
a triumph, a tremendous stride up
the ladder of fashion. Why, Lady Mantower
had a Royal Duke and Duchess,
Prince Leopold of Saxe-Todleben, and other
great persons, down at Gooseberry Hill,
once a week at least. Lady Seaman, who
called Lady Mantower "my dear," managed
all this.

"Some 'queries,' dear, I want to get
ferreted out one of these days—and you
will really oblige me. Just ask them with
some of your dukes and marquises, and
they will get wild with delight."

Lady Mantower was not ill-natured, and
did so. She had heard also of their great
wealth and usefulness, and felt a natural
eagerness to share in some of the spoil.
Accordingly, Lord and Lady Mantower requested
the honour of Mr. and Mrs. Leader's
company at dinner, to meet his Royal
Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe-Todleben out
at Gooseberry Hill; an invitation joyfully
accepted. Forthwith all hands, as a tar
would say, were piped to prepare. Madame
Duval received a reckless order for the
richest and most imposing dress she could
turn out, or import from Paris, suggested by
the distinguished man-milliner who rules,
or ruled, there. It was then that Messrs.
Alcock's gentleman—those eminent jewellers
—waited on her with that parure of
diamonds which the Duchess of M. was
after; a lady who had already snubbed the
persevering Mrs. Leader in the unconscious
way one would tread on a spider; and it
really showed a nicety and delicacy on the
part of Messrs. Alcock to come and give