“It hardly interests me,” she said quietly. “A child was born in this house and stolen out of it, the child of a low woman—she was not the wife of sir Wilton. I don’t like even to mention it. Such things are sad facts of life. But it matters little to the future of Mortgrange, I daresay. Of course I know where you doubtless heard it. Any man, bookbinder or blacksmith, may put in a claim. And he will probably find many to back him.”

“You imagine Mr. Tuke told me, lady Ann? You are mistaken. He knows nothing.”

“Then who told you? Is it likely his friends have gotten him into the house with him knowing nothing of their designs?”

“How do you know it was he I meant, lady Ann?”

“You told me so yourself.”

“No. That I did not! I know I didn’t, lady Ann. What made you fix your thoughts on him?”

Lady Ann saw she had committed herself.

“If you did not tell me,” she rejoined, “your peculiar behaviour to the man must have led me to the conclusion!”

“I have never concealed my interest in Mr. Tuke, but—”

“You certainly have not!” interrupted her ladyship, who suffered both in temper and loss of prudence from annoyance at her own blunder.

“Please, hear me out, lady Ann. What I want to say is that my friendship for Mr. Tuke began long before I learned any of this.”

“Friendship! Ah, well—scarcely decorous! But I would counsel a little caution. The fellow’s parentage is of no consequence. I am sorry he should have been born out of wedlock, but such things are common among the low-born.”

Here lady Ann saw a change on Barbara’s face. It suddenly occurred to her what she would gain if indeed he were illegitimate. She might behave to him as she pleased—though of course people would talk of her going below her station, but who cared for that? There could be no suspicion of low motive on her part. And with this realization a slow smile spread across her face. She was free to approach Richard and make some amends for the judgment of the world. I do not know that she said to herself, “Now I may love him as I please!” but her thought went in that direction.