"Then let Louis give me an order to that effect, and behave to me like a husband, and I will obey him," Emily had answered.

And she had gone on to plead that in her present condition she was under no orders from her husband.

She was left to judge for herself, and,--judging for herself,--she knew, as she said, that it was best that she should write to Colonel Osborne.

Unfortunately there was no ground for hoping that Colonel Osborne was ignorant of this insane jealousy on the part of her husband.

It was better, therefore, she said, that she should write to him,--whom on the occasion she took care to name to her sister as "papa's old friend,"-- and explain to him what she would wish him to do, and what not to do.