chased him, had condescended to be
quiet, but now that a fresh party of the enemy was approaching, set up
his bristles, and began to bark and growl furiously.

"Down, Grip! Quiet!" she cried, and feeling bound to act, she went on,
with the midshipman keeping close up, and putting in an apologetic word
about giving her so much trouble.

Celia could hardly keep down a hysterical cry, as she caught sight of
her father and mother, the latter with her hand upon the former's arm.
They had been taking their customary walk in the neglected garden, and
Sir Risdon was about to lead his pale, careworn lady up the steps, when
the snarling and subdued barking of Grip made him turn his head, and he
stopped short with his lips almost white.

"What is it?" whispered Lady Graeme, as she saw the uniforms and weapons
of the men.

"The end!" said the unhappy man, as he looked wildly at his wife. "The
result of my weakness. They are on the scent of the smuggled goods, and
I am to be called to account for their possession. Better that we had
starved!"

Lady Graeme caught his hand, and pressed it hard.

"Be firm," she whispered; "you will betray yourself."

"Well," he replied bitterly, "why not? Better so than being the slave
of that wretched man. I feel that I am worse than he. I do know
better, he does not."

Recalling that he was in the presence of a gentleman, Archy raised his
hat, advanced and said, apologetically, who and what they were. That
his was a very unpleasant duty, but that as a gentleman, Sir Risdon
would see that the king's officers had no alternative but to carry out
their duty.

"Of course not, sir," said Sir Risdon. "I understand, sir, you wish to
search. Very well, I shall raise no objection. Proceed."

"Shall we close the men all round the house?" said the master, coming up
after halting the men.

"Wait a minute," replied Archy. "Really, I hardly think it is necessary
for us to commit so serious an act of rudeness towards a gentleman.
Perhaps Sir Risdon Graeme will be good enough to assure me."

"No, sir," said the baronet sternly; "I shall make no obstacle. You
have your duty to do; pray proceed."

The midshipman hesitated, and looked from one to the other, seeing Lady
Graeme standing pale, handsome, and statuesque by her husband's side,
while on the other side was Celia, holding her father's hand, and
resting her forehead against his arm.

"I won't do it, I can't," thought Archy. "Why d