WYLDER'S HAJVD 81
sense with a high hand, and had ruled her lord with a
rod of iron,
"That's no tradition of the Brandons," said Miss Dor-
eas, quietly.
"The Brandons — pooh! my dear — it is time the
Brandons should grow like other people. Hitherto, the
Brandon men have all, without exception, been the wiok-
edest in all England, and the women the handsomest and
the most self-willed. Of course the men could not be
obeyed in all things, nor the women disobeyed. I'm a
Brandon myself, Dorcas, so I've a right to speak. But
the words are precise — honor and obey — and obey you
must; though, of course you may argue a point* if need
be, and let your husband hear reason."
And, having ruled the point, old Lady Chelford leaned
back and resumed her doze.
There was no longer anything playful in Dorcas's look.
On the contrary, something fierce and lurid, which I
thought wonderfully becoming; and after a little she said,
"I promised, Rachel, to show you my jewels. Come
now — will you ? — and see them."
And she placed Bachel's hand on her arm, and the two
young ladies departed.
"Are you well, dear? " asked Rachel when they reach-
ed her room.
Dorcas was very pale, and her gaze was stern, and some-
thing undefinably wild in her quietude.
"What day of the month is this?" said Dorcas.
- "The eighth — is not it? — yes, the eighth," answer-
el Rachel.
"And our marriage is fixed for the twenty-second —just
a fortnight hence. I am going to tell you, Rachel, what
I have resolved on."
"How really beautiful these diamonds are! — quite
superb."