“I will go home.  I can get on without you altogether.  I will go home.”

“Come, Susanna! what is the use of kicking up a row?  I cant afford to quarrel with all my people because you choose to be unreasonable.”

“What do I care about your people, or about you either?”

“Very well, then,” said Marmaduke, offended, “you can go home if you like.  Perhaps your brother appreciates this sort of thing.  I dont.”

“Ah, you coward!  You taunt me because you think I have no home.  Do you flatter yourself that I am dependent on you?”

“Hold your tongue,” said Marmaduke, fiercely.  “Dont you turn on me in that fashion.  Keep your temper if you want me to keep mine.”

“You have ruined me,” said Susanna, sitting down on the grass, and beginning to cry.

“Oh, upon my soul, this is too much,” said Marmaduke, with disgust.  “Get up out of that and dont make a fool of yourself.  Ruined indeed!  Will you get up?”

“No!” screamed Susanna.

“Then stay where you are and be damned,” retorted Marmaduke, turning on his heel and walking toward the house.  In the hall he met a maid carrying an empty champagne bottle and goblet.

“Missis is looking for you, sir,” said the maid.

“All right,” said Marmaduke, “I have seen her.  Listen to me.  I am going to the country.  My man Mason will come here to-day to pack up my traps, and bring them after me.  You had better take a note of my address from the card in the strap of my valise.”

“Yes, sir,” said the maid.  “Any message for missis?”

“No,” said Marmaduke.  He then changed his coat and hat, and went out again.  As he approached the gate he met Susanna, who had risen and was walking toward the house.

“I am going to Carbury,” he said.  “I dont know when I shall be back.”

She passed on disdainfully, as if she had not heard him.

CHAPTER VI

Three days later Lord Carbury came to luncheon with a letter in his hand.  Marian had not yet come in; and the Rev. George was absent, his place being filled by Marmaduke.

“Good news for you and Constance, mother.”

“Indeed?” said the Countess, smiling.

“Yes.  Conolly is coming down this afternoon to collect his traps and leave you forever.”

“Really, Jasper, you exaggerate Mr. Conolly’s importance.  Intelligence of his movements can hardly be news—­good or bad—­either to me or to Constance.”

“I am glad he is going,” said Constance, “for Jasper’s sake.”

“Thank you,” replied Jasper.  “I thought you would be.  He will be a great loss to me.”

“Nonsense!” said the Countess.  “If another workman is needed, another can easily be had.”

“If I can be of any assistance to you, old man,” said Marmaduke, “make what use of me you like.  I picked up something about the business yesterday.”