e doctor drew
her arm into his; found out, sorely against her will, that she was
trembling, and held her fast, not without a sympathetic tremor in the
arm on which she was constrained to lean.

"But I hold you to yours!" said the doctor; "there has not been any
obstacle between us for months but this; and now it is gone, do you
think I will forget what you have said, Nettie? You told me it was
impossible once----"

"And you did not contradict me, Dr Edward," said the wilful creature,
withdrawing her hand from his arm. "I can walk very well by myself,
thank you. You did not contradict me! You were content to submit to what
could not be helped. And so am I. An obstacle which is only removed by
Richard Chatham," said Nettie, with female cruelty, turning her eyes
full and suddenly upon her unhappy lover, "does not count for much. I do
not hold you to anything. We are both free."

What dismayed answer the doctor might have made to this heartless speech
can never be known. He was so entirely taken aback that he paused,
clearing his throat with but one amazed exclamation of her name; but
before his astonishment and indignation had shaped itself into words,
their interview was interrupted. An irregular patter of hasty little
steps, and outcries of a childish voice behind, had not caught the
attention of either in that moment of excitement; but just as Nettie
delivered this cruel outbreak of feminine pride and self-assertion,
the little pursuing figure made up to them, and plunged at her dress.
Freddy, in primitive unconcern for anybody but himself, rushed
head-foremost between these two at the critical instant. He made a
clutch at Nettie with one hand, and with all the force of the other
thrust away the astonished doctor. Freddy's errand was of life or death.

"I shan't go with any one but Nettie," cried the child, clinging to her
dress. "I hate Chatham and everybody. I will jump into the sea and swim
back again. I will never, never leave go of her, if you should cut my
hands off. Nettie! Nettie!--take me with you. Let me go where you are
going! I will never be naughty any more! I will never, never go away
till Nettie goes! I love Nettie best! Go away, all of you!" cried Freddy,
in desperation, pushing off the doctor with hands and feet alike. "I
will stay with Nettie. Nobody loves Nettie but me."

Nettie had no power left to resist this new assault. She dropped down
on one knee beside the child, and clasped him to her in