"The law. It may seize you yet, madam, and it has a tight grip."
"I shall not remain here to be so grossly insulted. If you have anything more to say to me, my lord, you must write."
"And you refuse to give up the child?"
"You had better put your proposals on paper, Lord Essendine. I may consider them in my child's interests, although the separation would be almost too bitter to bear. I may add, however, that I will consent to nothing that does not include some settlement on myself—"
"As to that," said the lawyer, "his lordship declines to bind himself—is it not so, my lord?"
"Quite; I will make no promises. But she will not find me ungenerous if she will accept my terms."
And so the interview ended. There was no further reference made to the unpleasant facts now brought to light by the letter and documents sent over by Hyde. Mrs. Wilders, as we shall still call her, knew that she could not dispute them; that any protest in the shape of law proceedings would only make more public her own shame and discomfiture. But if she was beaten she would not confess it yet; and at least she was resolved that the enemy who had so ruthlessly betrayed her should not enjoy his triumph.