ok up his place near her.

'Let us sing just a few notes together,' said Estelle, with some
eagerness to join in raising those lovely echoes. 'We can sing the
beginning of the---- Julien!'

Her voice suddenly ended in a scream of terror, while, with wide-open
eyes, she stared towards the dark entrance to the Rift. Looking to see
what had alarmed her, the boy's heart stood still. His instinct had not
deceived him. He remembered Jack's caution all too late, and--Jack was
away!

Paralysed, he watched Thomas emerge from the Rift, and advance towards
them with a smile of satisfaction. In sudden panic Julien tried to
think. What was he to do? Escape was impossible. He was but a
boy--neither tall nor particularly strong. Thomas, on the other hand,
was big and powerful. Any struggle between them could end but in one
way. What _was_ he to do? Where should he go for help? How could he
leave Estelle even for one moment?

Thomas was approaching with quiet deliberation. There was no need to
hurry when his quarry was safe; and this Julien realised all too well.
With the instinct of protection, he stepped in front of the little girl
with a wild but silent prayer for the return of Jack--of _anybody_--to
protect them.

Clinging to him, trembling with the terror which Thomas always inspired,
Estelle also was silent. That scream was the only one she uttered. She
would try to be brave and help her boyish defender--at least, not hinder
his efforts in her behalf.

'_Allez-vous en_' ('Go away'), called out Thomas, as he came nearer and
nearer and glared at Julien. 'We don't want you. The little lady's right
enough with me, who knows her aunts and uncle, and all the little
cousins. It's downright audacious how they all try to keep you away from
me, my lady. Why, I know more about you than all these Frenchies put
together, now don't I?'

But Julien was no coward. He remained firmly in front of Estelle, though
he did not understand Thomas's English. The little girl clung to his
arm.

Thomas was not to be turned from his purpose, however. 'You come along
of me, my lady,' he said, in determined tones, 'and I'll take care of
you, and hand you safe to my Lady Coke.'

'Thomas,' said Estelle, desperation giving her the courage she had
hitherto lacked, 'I am with kind friends, and I am sure Aunt Betty would
like me to stay with them till Jack can take me home. Please go away.'

'Don't you believe it, my lady!' exclaimed the man, with an in