peak the truth," rejoined Donal, "it matters little that
you should think me a liar. But, my lord, you must allow me to take
Eppy home."

"A likely thing!" answered Forgue, drawing Eppy closer, and looking at
him with contempt.

"Give up the girl," said Donal sternly, "or I will raise the town, and
have a crowd about the house in three minutes."

"You are the devil!" cried Forgue. "There! take her--with the
consequences! If you had let us alone, I would have done my
part.--Leave us now, and I'll promise to marry her. If you don't, you
will have the blame of what may happen--not I."

"But you will, dearest?" said Eppy in a tone terrified and beseeching.

Gladly she would have had Donal hear him say he would.

Forgue pushed her from him. She burst into tears. He took her in his
arms again, and soothed her like a child, assuring her he meant nothing
by what he had said.

"You are my own!" he went on; "you know you are, whatever our enemies
may drive us to! Nothing can part us. Go with him, my darling, for the
present. The time will come when we shall laugh at them all. If it were
not for your sake, and the scandal of the thing, I would send the
rascal to the bottom of the stair. But it is better to be patient."

Sobbing bitterly, Eppy went with Donal. Forgue stood shaking with
impotent rage.

When they reached the street, Donal turned to lock the door. Eppy
darted from him, and ran down the close, thinking to go in again by the
side door. But it was locked, and Donal was with her in a moment.

"You go home alone, Eppy," he said; "it will be just as well I should
not go with you. I must see lord Forgue out of the house."

"Eh, ye winna hurt him!" pleaded Eppy.

"Not if I can help it. I don't want to hurt him. You go home. It will
be better for him as well as you."

She went slowly away, weeping, but trying to keep what show of calm she
could. Donal waited a minute or two, went back to the front door,
entered, and hastening to the side door took the key from the lock.
Then returning to the hall, he cried from the bottom of the stair,

"My lord, I have both the keys; the side door is locked; I am about to
lock the front door, and I do not want to shut you in. Pray, come down."

Forgue came leaping down the stair, and threw himself upon Donal in a
fierce attempt after the key in his hand. The sudden assault staggered
him, and he fell on the floor with Forgue above him, who sought to
wrest the key from him. Bu