ll only
revile you, and make you wretched." Thus between the two ladies the
baronet was restrained.

It was Mr Maguire. Having learned from his ally, Miss Colza, that
Margaret was staying with her cousins in Cavendish Square, he had
resolved upon calling on Mrs Mackenzie, and forcing his way, if
possible, into Margaret's presence. Things were not going well
with him at Littlebath, and in his despair he had thought that the
best chance to him of carrying on the fight lay in this direction.
Then there was a course of embassies between the dining-room and
drawing-room in the Mackenzie mansion. The servant was sent to ask
the gentleman his name, and the gentleman sent up to say that he was
a clergyman,--that his name was not known to Mrs Mackenzie, but that
he wanted to see her most particularly for a few minutes on very
special business. Then the servant was despatched to ask him whether
or no he was the Rev. Jeremiah Maguire, of Littlebath, and under this
compulsion he sent back word that such was his designation. He was
then told to go. Upon that he wrote a note to Mrs Mackenzie, setting
forth that he had a private communication to make, much to the
advantage of her cousin, Miss Margaret Mackenzie. He was again told
to go; and then told again, that if he did not leave the house at
once, the assistance of the police would be obtained. Then he went.
"And it was frightful to behold him," said the servant, coming up for
the tenth time. But the servant no doubt enjoyed the play, and on one
occasion presumed to remark that he did not think any reference to
the police was necessary. "Such a game as we've had up!" he said to
the coachman that afternoon in the kitchen.

And the game that they had in the drawing-room was not a bad game
either. When Mr Maguire would not go, the two women joined in
laughing, till at last the tears ran down Mrs Mackenzie's face.

"Only think of our being kept prisoners here by a one-eyed
clergyman."

"He has got two eyes," said Margaret. "If he had ten he shan't see
us."

And at last Sir John laughed; and as he laughed he came and stood
near Margaret; and once he got his arm round her waist, and Griselda
was very happy. At the present moment she was quite indifferent to Mr
Maguire and any mode of fighting that he might adopt.

CHAPTER XXX

Conclusion

Things had not been going well with Mr Maguire when, as a last
chance, he attempted to force an entrance into Mrs Mackenzie's
draw