late for Sir Dugald's dinner, and here you are just in time. I hope
you are well, and not tired."

Theo replied meekly. She was quite well, and not at all tired, which
seemed to satisfy her ladyship, for she nodded her handsome old head
approvingly.

"Very well, then, my dear," she said. "I will ring for Splaighton to
take you up-stairs, and attend to you. Of course, you will want to
change your dress for dinner, and you have not much time. Sir Dugald
never waits for anybody, and nothing annoys him more than to have dinner
detained."

Accordingly, greatly in awe of Sir Dugald, whoever he might be, Theodora
was pioneered out of the room again, and up another broad stair-case,
into an apartment as spacious and luxurious as the one below. There her
toilet was performed and there the gray satin was donned in some
trepidation, as the most suitable dress for the occasion.

She stepped before the full-length mirror to look at herself before
going down, and as she did so, she was conscious that her waiting-woman
was looking at her too in sedate approval. The gray satin was very
becoming. Its elaborate richness and length of train changed the
undeveloped girl, to whom she had given a farewell glance in the small
mirror at Downport, to the stateliest of tall young creatures. Her bare
arms and neck were as soft and firm as a baby's; her _riant_, un-English
face seemed all aglow of color and mellow eyes. But for the presence of
the maid, she would have uttered a little cry of pleasure, she was so
new to herself.

It was like a dream, the going down-stairs in the light and brightness,
and listening to the soft sweep of the satin train; but it was
singularly undream-like to be startled as she was by the rushing of a
huge Spanish mastiff, which bounded down the steps behind her, and
bounding upon her dress, nearly knocked her down. The animal came like a
rush of wind, and simultaneously a door opened and shut with a bang; and
the man who came out to follow the dog, called to him in a voice so
rough that it might have been a rush of wind also.

"Sabre!" he shouted. "Come back, you scoundrel!" and then his heavy feet
sounded upon the carpet. "The deuce!" he said, in an odd, low mutter,
which sounded as though he was speaking half to her, half to himself.
"My lady's protege, is it? The other Pamela! Rather an improvement on
Pamela, too. Not so thin."

Theo blushed brilliantly--a full-blown rose of a blush, and hesitated,
uncert