I heard footsteps in the corridor, and then an old woman
entered and curtsied respectfully. My host rose and went over to the
fireplace, where he stood with his hands behind his back and the same
devilish grin upon his face.

"Well, where is my daughter?"

"Sir, do you really mean it?"

"Of course I mean it. Where is she?"

In answer the old lady went to the door and called to some one in the
hall.

"Come in, dearie. It's all right. Come in, do'ee now, that's a little
dear."

But the girl made no sign of entering, and at last the old woman had to
go out and draw her in. And then--but I hardly know how to write it. How
shall I give you a proper description of the--_thing_ that entered.

She--if _she_ it could be called--was about three feet high, dressed in
a shapeless print costume. Her hair stood and hung in a tangled mass
upon her head, her eyes were too large for her face, and to complete the
horrible effect, a great patch of beard grew on one cheek, and descended
almost to a level with her chin. Her features were all awry, and now and
again she uttered little moans that were more like those of a wild beast
than of a human being. In spite of the old woman's endeavours to make
her do so, she would not venture from her side, but stood slobbering and
moaning in the half dark of the doorway.

It was a ghastly sight, one that nearly turned me sick with loathing.
But the worst part of it all was the inhuman merriment of her father.

"There, there!" he cried; "had ever man such a lovely daughter? Isn't
she a beauty? Isn't she fit to be a prince's bride? Isn't she fit to be
the heiress of all this place? Won't the young dukes be asking her hand
in marriage? Oh, you beauty! You--but there, take her away--take her
away, I say, before I do her mischief."

The words had no sooner left his mouth than the old woman seized her
charge and bundled her out of the room, moaning as before. I can tell
you there was at least one person in that apartment who was heartily
glad to be rid of her.

When the door had closed upon them my host came back to his seat, and
with another sigh refilled my glass. I wondered what was coming next. It
was not long, however, before I found out.

"Now you know everything," he said. "You have seen my home, you have
seen my poverty, and you have seen my daughter. What do you think of it
all?"

"I don't know what to think."

"Well, then, I'll tell you. That child wants doctors; that child wan