it were not better to "be off with the old love," and seek
to win the heiress, for the vanity of Mr. Percy inspired him to
believe that it would not be a hopeless task. He had heard, however,
of that person who, "between two stools," fell to the ground, and he
was careful not to reveal to Miss Arthur the laxity of his affections.

And so the days moved on.

Percy dividing his attention between his _fiance_ and Miss Payne;
studying the latter, and closely watching Davlin and Cora.

That last named lady smiling and lounging below stairs, sulking and
smoking above, and always under surveillance.

Davlin, having assured Cora that he was acting from motives politic,
paying open court to Madeline.

That young lady calmly acting her part, thoroughly understanding and
heartily despising them all.

John Arthur alternately raging and sulking, obdurately refusing to
accede to his step-daughter's terms, and vowing to escape and wreak
vengeance upon every one of them.

"Dr. Le Guise," calm as a Summer morning, and taking more real ease
and comfort than all the others combined.

Hagar watchful and anxious.

The two new maids making themselves popular in the kitchen, and
"sleeping with their eyes open."

* * * * *

And still no clue by which Madeline and her efficient _aides de camp_
could unravel the web of doubt that still clung about, and kept a
prisoner, the long-suffering Philip Girard.

CHAPTER XLII.

A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.

After some days of outward calm, came a ripple upon the surface of
events.

It had been a dull, cloudy day, with occasional gusts of wind and
rain; wind that chilled to the very marrow, and rain that froze as it
fell.

The three men, Davlin, Percy and the Professor, had been constrained
to abandon their customary morning walk, with cigar accompaniment, up
and down the terrace. And the well-borers had been obliged to stop
their work.

Mrs. Arthur had kept her room and her bed all day long, afflicted by a
raging toothache. Strong was kept at her side, almost constantly
applying hot water, laudanum and various other local applications. As
the day advanced, the sufferer seemed growing worse; and when Madeline
came in to administer consolation, and see if the woman were really
ill, Cora sent for Dr. Le Guise, vowing she would have the tooth out,
and every other one in her head, if the pain did not stop. But when
the Professor arrived, her courage fa