THE trim little maid-servant ran upstairs from her modest littlekitchen, trembling at the terrible prospect of having to open thedoor. Miss Pink, deafened by the barking, had just time to say,"What a very ill-behaved dog!" when a sound of small objectsoverthrown in the hall, and a scurrying of furious claws acrossthe oil-cloth, announced that Tommie had invaded the house. Asthe servant appeared, introducing Lady Lydiard, the dog ran in.He made one frantic leap at Isabel, which would certainly haveknocked her down but for the chair that happened to be standingbehind her. Received on her lap, the faithful creature halfsmothered her with his caresses. He barked, he shrieked, in hisjoy at seeing her again. He jumped off her lap and tore round andround the room at the top of his speed; and every time he passedMiss Pink he showed the whole range of his teeth and snarledferociously at her ankles. Having at last exhausted hissuperfluous energy, he leaped back again on Isabel's lap, withhis tongue quivering in his open mouth--his tail wagging softly,and his eye on Miss Pink, inquiring how she liked a dog in herdrawing-room!

"I hope my dog has not disturbed you, ma'am?" said Lady Lydiard,advancing from the mat at the doorway, on which she had patientlywaited until the raptures of Tommie subsided into repose.

Miss Pink, trembling between terror and indignation, acknowledgedLady Lydiard's polite inquiry by a ceremonious bow, and an answerwhich administered by implication a dignified reproof. "YourLadyship's dog does not appear to be a very well-trained animal,"the ex-schoolmistress remarked.

"Well trained?" Lady Lydiard repeated, as if the expression wasperfectly unintelligible to her. "I don't think you have had muchexperience of dogs, ma'am." She turned to Isabel, and embracedher tenderly. "Give me a kiss, my dear--you don't know howwretched I have been since you left me." She looked back again atMiss Pink. "You are not, perhaps, aware, ma'am, that my dog isdevotedly attached to your niece. A dog's love has beenconsidered by many great men (whose names at the moment escapeme) as the most touching and disinterested of all earthlyaffections." She looked the other way, and discovered the lawyer."How do you do, Mr. Troy? It's a pleasant surprise to find youhere The house was so dull without Isabel that I really couldn'tput off seeing her any longer. When you are more used to Tommie,Miss Pink, you will understand and admire him. _You_ understandand admire him, Isabel--don't you? My child! you are not lookingwell. I shall take you back with me, when the horses have hadtheir rest. We shall never be happy away from each other."

Having expressed her sentiments, distributed her greetings, anddefended her dog--all, as it were, in one breath--Lady Lydiardsat down by Isabel's side, and opened a large green fan that hungat her girdle. "You have no idea, Miss Pink, how fat peoplesuffer in hot weather," said the old lady, using her fanvigorously.

Miss Pink's eyes dropped modestly to the ground--"fat" was such acoarse word to use, if a lady _must_ speak of her own superfluousflesh! "May I offer some refreshment?" Miss Pink asked,mincingly. "A cup of tea?"

Lady Lydiard shook her head.

"A glass of water?"

Lady Lydiard declined this last hospitable proposal with anexclamation of disgust. "Have you got any beer?" she inquired.

"I beg your Ladyship's pardon," said Miss Pink, doubting theevidence of her own ears. "Did you say--beer?"

Lady Lydiard gesticulated vehemently with her fan. "Yes, to besure! Beer! beer!"

Miss Pink rose, with a countenance expressive of genteel disgust,and rang the bell. "I think you have beer downstairs, Susan?" shesaid, when the maid appeared at the door.

"Yes, miss."

"A glass of beer for Lady Lydiard," said Miss Pink--underprotest.

"Bring it in a jug," shouted her Ladyship, as the maid left theroom. "I like to froth it up for myself," she continued,addressing Miss Pink. "Isabel sometimes does it for me, when sheis at home--don't you, my dear?"

Miss Pink had been waiting her opportunity to assert her ownclaim to the possession of her own niece, from the time when LadyLydiard had coolly declared her intention of taking Isabel backwith her. The opportunity now presented itself.

"Your Ladyship will pardon me," she said, "if I remark that myniece's home is under my humble roof. I am properly sensible, Ihope, of your kindness to Isabel, but while she remains theobject of a disgraceful suspicion she remains with me."

Lady Lydiard closed her fan with an angry snap.

"You are completely mistaken, Miss Pink. You may not mean it--butyou speak most unjustly if you say that your niece is an objectof suspicion to me, or to anybody in my house."

Mr. Troy, quietly listening up to this point now interposed tostop the discussion before it could degenerate into a personalquarrel. His keen observation, aided by his accurate knowledge ofhis client's character, had plainly revealed to him what waspassing in Lady Lydiard's mind. She had entered the house,feeling (perhaps unconsciously) a jealousy of Miss Pink, as herpredecessor in Isabel's affections, and as the naturalprotectress of the girl under existing circumstances. Miss Pink'sreception of her dog had additionally irritated the old lady. Shehad taken a malicious pleasure in shocking the schoolmistress'ssense of propriety--and she was now only too ready to proceed tofurther extremities on the delicate question of Isabel'sjustification for leaving her house. For Isabel's own sake,therefore--to say nothing of other reasons--it was urgentlydesirable to keep the peace between the two ladies. With thisexcellent object in view, Mr. Troy seized his opportunity ofstriking into the conversation for the first time.

"Pardon me, Lady Lydiard," he said, "you are speaking of asubject which has been already sufficiently discussed betweenMiss Pink and myself. I think we shall do better not to dwelluselessly on past events, but to direct our attention to thefuture. We are all equally satisfied of the complete rectitude ofMiss Isabel's conduct, and we are all equally interested in thevindication of her good name."

Whether these temperate words would of themselves have exercisedthe pacifying influence at which Mr. Troy aimed may be doubtful.But, as he ceased speaking, a powerful auxiliary appeared in theshape of the beer. Lady Lydiard seized on the jug, a nd filledthe tumbler for herself with an unsteady hand. Miss Pink,trembling for the integrity of her carpet, and scandalized atseeing a peeress drinking beer like a washer-woman, forgot thesharp answer that was just rising to her lips when the lawyerinterfered. "Small!" said Lady Lydiard, setting down the emptytumbler, and referring to the quality of the beer. "But verypleasant and refreshing. What's the servant's name? Susan? Well,Susan, I was dying of thirst and you have saved my life. You canleave the jug--I dare say I shall empty it before I go."

Mr. Troy, watching Miss Pink's face, saw that it was time tochange the subject again.

"Did you notice the old village, Lady Lydiard, on your way here?"he asked. "The artists consider it one of the most picturesqueplaces in England."

"I noticed that it was a very dirty village," Lady Lydiardanswered, still bent on making herself disagreeable to Miss Pink.The artists may say what they please; I see nothing to admire inrotten cottages, and bad drainage, and ignorant people. I supposethe neighborhood has its advantages. It looks dull enough, to mymind."

Isabel had hitherto modestly restricted her exertions to keepingTommie quiet on her lap. Like Mr. Troy, she occasionally lookedat her aunt--and she now made a timid attempt to defend theneighborhood as a duty that she owed to Miss Pink.

"Oh, my Lady! don't say it's a dull neighborhood," she pleaded."There are such pretty walks all round us. And, when you get tothe hills, the view is beautiful."

Lady Lydiard's answer to this was a little masterpiece ofgood-humored contempt. She patted Isabel's cheek, and said,"Pooh! Pooh!"

"Your Ladyship does not admire the beauties of Nature," Miss Pinkremarked, with a compassionate smile. "As we get older, no doubtour sight begins to fail--"

"And we leave off canting about the beauties of Nature," addedLady Lydiard. "I hate the country. Give me London, and thepleasures of society."

"Come! come! Do the country justice, Lady Lydiard!" put inpeace-making Mr. Troy. "There is plenty of society to be foundout of London--as good society as the world can show."

"The sort of society," added Miss Pink, "which is to be found,for example, in this neighborhood. Her Ladyship is evidently notaware that persons of distinction surround us, whichever way weturn. I may instance among others, the Honorable Mr. Hardyman--"

Lady Lydiard, in the act of pouring out a second glassful ofbeer, suddenly set down the jug.

"Who is that you're talking of, Miss Pink?"

"I am talking of our neighbor, Lady Lydiard--the Honorable Mr.Hardyman."

"Do you mean Alfred Hardyman--the man who breeds the horses?"

"The distinguished gentleman who owns the famous stud-farm," saidMiss Pink, correcting the bluntly-direct form in which LadyLydiard had put her question.

"Is he in the habit of visiting here?" the old lady inquired,with a sudden appearance of anxiety. "Do you know him?"

"I had the honor of being introduced to Mr. Hardyman at our lastflower show," Miss Pink replied. "He has not yet favored me witha visit."

Lady Lydiard's anxiety appeared to be to some extent relieved.

"I knew that Hardyman's farm was in this county," she said; "butI had no notion that it was in the neighborhood of South Morden.How far away is he--ten or a dozen miles, eh?"

"Not more than three miles," answered Miss Pink. "We consider himquite a near neighbor of ours."

Renewed anxiety showed itself in Lady Lydiard. She looked roundsharply at Isabel. The girl's head was bent so low over the roughhead of the dog that her face was almost entirely concealed fromview. So far as appearances went, she seemed to be entirelyabsorbed in fondling Tommie. Lady Lydiard roused her with a tapof the green fan.

"Take Tommie out, Isabel, for a run in the garden," she said. "Hewon't sit still much longer--and he may annoy Miss Pink. Mr.Troy, will you kindly help Isabel to keep my ill-trained dog inorder?"

Mr. Troy got on his feet, and, not very willingly, followedIsabel out of the room. "They will quarrel now, to a deadcertainty!" he thought to himself, as he closed the door. "Haveyou any idea of what this means?" he said to his companion, as hejoined her in the hall. "What has Mr. Hardyman done to excite allthis interest in him?"

Isabel's guilty color rose. She knew perfectly well thatHardyman's unconcealed admiration of her was the guiding motiveof Lady Lydiard's inquiries. If she had told the truth, Mr. Troywould have unquestionably returned to the drawing-room, with orwithout an acceptable excuse for intruding himself. But Isabelwas a woman; and her answer, it is needless to say, was "I don'tknow, I'm sure."

In the mean time, the interview between the two ladies began in amanner which would have astonished Mr. Troy--they were bothsilent. For once in her life Lady Lydiard was considering whatshe should say, before she said it. Miss Pink, on her side,naturally waited to hear what object her Ladyship had inview--waited, until her small reserve of patience gave way. Urgedby irresistible curiosity, she spoke first.

"Have you anything to say to me in private?" she asked.

Lady Lydiard had not got to the end of her reflections. She said"Yes!" --and she said no more.

"Is it anything relating to my niece?" persisted Miss Pink.

Still immersed in her reflections, Lady Lydiard suddenly rose tothe surface, and spoke her mind, as usual.

"About your niece, ma'am. The other day Mr. Hardyman called at myhouse, and saw Isabel."

"Yes," said Miss Pink, politely attentive, but not in the leastinterested, so far.

"That's not all ma'am. Mr. Hardyman admires Isabel; he owned itto me himself in so many words."

Miss Pink listened, with a courteous inclination of her head. Shelooked mildly gratified, nothing more. Lady Lydiard proceeded:

"You and I think differently on many matters," she said. "But weare both agreed, I am sure, in feeling the sincerest interest inIsabel's welfare. I beg to suggest to you, Miss Pink, that Mr.Hardyman, as a near neighbor of yours, is a very undesirableneighbor while Isabel remains in your house."

Saying those words, under a strong conviction of the seriousimportance of the subject, Lady Lydiard insensibly recovered themanner and resumed the language which befitted a lady of herrank. Miss Pink, noticing the change, set it down to anexpression of pride on the part of her visitor which, inreferring to Isabel, assailed indirectly the social position ofIsabel's aunt.

"I fail entirely to understand what your Ladyship means," shesaid coldly.

Lady Lydiard, on her side, looked in undisguised amazement atMiss Pink.

"Haven't I told you already that Mr. Hardyman admires yourniece?" she asked.

"Naturally," said Miss Pink. "Isabel inherits her lamentedmother's personal advantages. If Mr. Hardyman admires her, Mr.Hardyman shows his good taste."

Lady Lydiard's eyes opened wider and wider in wonder. "My goodlady!" she exclaimed, "is it possible you don't know that when aman admires a women he doesn't stop there? He falls in love withher (as the saying is) next."

"So I have heard," said Miss Pink.

"So you have _heard?_" repeated Lady Lydiard. "If Mr. Hardymanfinds his way to Isabel I can tell you what you will _see_. Catchthe two together, ma'am--and you will see Mr. Hardyman makinglove to your niece."

"Under due restrictions, Lady Lydiard, and with my permissionfirst obtained, of course, I see no objection to Mr. Hardymanpaying his addresses to Isabel."

"The woman is mad!" cried Lady Lydiard. "Do you actually suppose,Miss Pink, that Alfred Hardyman could, by any earthlypossibility, marry your niece!"

Not even Miss Pink's politeness could submit to such a questionas this. She rose indignantly from her chair. "As you aware, LadyLydiard, that the doubt you have just expressed is an insult tomy niece, and a insult to Me?"

"Are _you_ aware of who Mr. Hardyman really is?" retorted herLadyship. "Or do you judge of his position by the vocation inlife which he has perversely chosen to adopt? I can tell you, ifyou do, that Alfred Hardyman is the younger son of one of theoldest barons in the English Peerage, and that his mother isrelated by marriage to the Royal family of Wurtemberg."

Miss Pink received the full shock of this information withoutreceding from her position by a hair-breadth.

"An English gentlewoman offers a fit alliance to any man livingwho seeks her hand in marriage," said Miss Pink. "Isabel's mother(you may not be aware of it) was the daughter of an Englishclergyman--"

"And Isabel's father was a chemist in a country town," added LadyLydiard.

"Isabel's father," rejoined Miss Pink, "was attached in a mostresponsible capacity to the useful and honorable profession ofMedicine. Isabel is, in the strictest sense of the word, a younggentlewoman. If you contradict that for a single instant, LadyLydiard, you will oblige me to leave the room."

Those last words produced a result which Miss Pink had notanticipated--they roused Lady Lydiard to assert herself. As usualin such cases, she rose superior to her own eccentricity.Confronting Miss Pink, she now spoke and looked with the graciouscourtesy and the unpresuming self-confidence of the order towhich she belonged.

"For Isabel's own sake, and for the quieting of my conscience,"she answered, "I will say one word more, Miss Pink, before Irelieve you of my presence. Considering my age and myopportunities, I may claim to know quite as much as you do of thelaws and customs which regulate society in our time. Withoutcontesting your niece's social position--and without theslightest intention of insulting you--I repeat that the rankwhich Mr. Hardyman inherits makes it simply impossible for himeven to think of marrying Isabel. You will do well not to givehim any opportunities of meeting with her alone. And you will dobetter still (seeing that he is so near a neighbor of yours) ifyou permit Isabel to return to my protection, for a time atleast. I will wait to hear from you when you have thought thematter over at your leisure. In the mean time, if I haveinadvertently offended you, I ask your pardon--and I wish yougood-evening."

She bowed, and walked to the door. Miss Pink, as resolute as everin maintaining her pretensions, made an effort to match the greatlady on her own ground.

"Before you go, Lady Lydiard, I beg to apologize if I have spokentoo warmly on my side," she said. "Permit me to send for yourcarriage."

"Thank you, Miss Pink. My carriage is only at the village inn. Ishall enjoy a little walk in the cool evening air. Mr. Troy, Ihave no doubt, will give me his arm." She bowed once more, andquietly left the room.

Reaching the little back garden of the villa, through an opendoor at the further end of the hall, Lady Lydiard found Tommierolling luxuriously on Miss Pink's flower-beds, and Isabel andMr. Troy in close consultation on the gravel walk.

She spoke to the lawyer first.

"They are baiting the horses at the inn," she said. "I want yourarm, Mr. Troy, as far as the village--and, in return, I will takeyou back to London with me. I have to ask your advice about oneor two little matters, and this is a good opportunity."

"With the greatest pleasure, Lady Lydiard. I suppose I must saygood-by to Miss Pink?"

"A word of advice to you, Mr. Troy. Take care how you ruffle MissPink's sense of her own importance. Another word for your privateear. Miss Pink is a fool."

On the lawyer's withdrawal, Lady Lydiard put her arm fondly roundIsabel's waist. "What were you and Mr. Troy so busy in talkingabout?" she asked.

"We were talking, my Lady, about tracing the person who stole themoney," Isabel answered, rather sadly. "It seems a far moredifficult matter than I supposed it to be. I try not to losepatience and hope--but it is a little hard to feel thatappearances are against me, and to wait day after day in vain forthe discovery that is to set me right."

"You are a dear good child," said Lady Lydiard; "and you are moreprecious to me than ever. Don't despair, Isabel. With Mr. Troy'smeans of inquiring, and with my means of paying, the discovery ofthe thief cannot be much longer delayed. If you don't return tome soon, I shall come back and see you again. Your aunt hates thesight of me--but I don't care two straws for that," remarked LadyLydiard, showing the undignified side of her character once more."Listen to me, Isabel! I have no wish to lower your aunt in yourestimation, but I feel far more confidence in your good sensethan in hers. Mr. Hardyman's business has taken him to France forthe present. It is at least possible that you may meet with himon his return. If you do, keep him at a distance, mydear--politely, of course. There! there! you needn't turn red; Iam not blaming you; I am only giving you a little good advice. Inyour position you cannot possibly be too careful. Here is Mr.Troy! You must come to the gate with us, Isabel, or we shallnever get Tommie away from you; I am only his second favorite;you have the first place in his affections. God bless and prosperyou, my child!--I wish to heaven you were going back to Londonwith me! Well, Mr. Troy, how have you done with Miss Pink? Haveyou offended that terrible 'gentlewoman' (hateful word!); or hasit been all the other way, and has she given you a kiss atparting?"

Mr. Troy smiled mysteriously, and changed the subject. His briefparting interview with the lady of the house was not of a natureto be rashly related. Miss Pink had not only positively assuredhim that her visitor was the most ill-bred woman she had ever metwith, but had further accused Lady Lydiard of shaking herconfidence in the aristocracy of her native country. "For thefirst time in my life," said Miss Pink, "I feel that something isto be said for the Republican point of view; and I am notindisposed to admit that the constitution of the United States_has_ its advantages!"