fall on me,
as it has often done before," said the lady.

She sat down, and hastily wrote a few lines. The Lord Keeper made
another effort to prevent her taking a step so decisive, just as she
opened the door to call her female attendant from the ante-room. "Think
what you are doing, Lady Ashton: you are making a mortal enemy of a
young man who is like to have the means of harming us----"

"Did you ever know a Douglas who feared an enemy?" answered the lady,
contemptuously.

"Ay, but he is as proud and vindictive as an hundred Douglasses, and an
hundred devils to boot. Think of it for a night only."

"Not for another moment," answered the lady. "Here, Mrs. Patullo, give
this billet to young Ravenswood."

"To the Master, madam!" said Mrs. Patullo.

"Ay, to the Master, if you call him so."

"I wash my hands of it entirely," said the Keeper; "and I shall go down
into the garden, and see that Jardine gathers the winter fruit for the
dessert."

"Do so," said the lady, looking after him with glances of infinite
contempt; "and thank God that you leave one behind you as fit to protect
the honour of the family as you are to look after pippins and pears."

The Lord Keeper remained long enough in the garden to give her
ladyship's mind time to explode, and to let, as he thought, at least the
first violence of Ravenswood's displeasure blow over. When he entered
the hall, he found the Marquis of A---- giving orders to some of his
attendants. He seemed in high displeasure, and interrupted an apology
which Sir William had commenced for having left his lordship alone.

"I presume, Sir William, you are no stranger to this singular billet
with which MY kinsman of Ravenswood (an emphasis on the word 'my') has
been favoured by your lady; and, of course, that you are prepared
to receive my adieus. My kinsman is already gone, having thought it
unnecessary to offer any on his part, since all former civilities had
been cancelled by this singular insult."

"I protest, my lord," said Sir William, holding the billet in his hand,
"I am not privy to the contents of this letter. I know Lady Ashton is
a warm-tempered and prejudiced woman, and I am sincerely sorry for any
offence that has been given or taken; but I hope your lordship will
consider that a lady----"

"Should bear herself towards persons of a certain rank with the breeding
of one," said the Marquis, completing the half-uttered sentence.

"True, my lord," said the unfortun