ll a trifle red and swollen, while her small,
beautifully-shaped ear was crimson from the force of the blow which it
had received. I have already mentioned that this young lady's attitude
toward me had completely changed from the moment when I saved her
brother's life; her frosty and almost insolent aloofness had entirely
disappeared, giving place to a frank and cordial friendliness of
disposition rivalling that of her mother, which I admit was mightily
agreeable to me. In short, I believed her to be intensely grateful for
what I had done on that occasion, and perfectly willing that I should
know it. So now I was not at all surprised when, upon my entrance, she
came forward and, laying her hand upon my arm, said:

"Oh! Mr Leigh, I cannot tell you how dreadfully sorry I am for what
has happened. Momma is frightfully angry with you for what she is
pleased to term your violent and cowardly behaviour to Julius--they are
her words, please remember, not mine: but I think, indeed I am almost
certain, that upon reflection she will recognise that no man could stand
by and permit to pass, unreproved, such an outrage as that wretched boy
inflicted upon me. The fact is--I can see it for myself now--we have
all combined together to spoil Julius, with the result that he has
become a thoroughly selfish, conceited, unfeeling, unmanageable boy; and
it is high time that somebody should intervene. But that somebody must
not be you, Mr Leigh; you have no right to interfere, you know, and I
am sure that Momma would never tolerate anything of the kind from you.

"At the same time I feel impelled to say,"--and here her eyes sparkled
and an amused smile lighted up her face--"that I believe your
interference has done Julius good. You frightened him, and I think he
will feel that henceforth he will have to behave a little more
circumspectly while you are around. But I want you, please, to promise
me that you will not interfere with him again. I will take up the
matter. I will talk very seriously to Momma and see if I cannot open
her eyes to the very serious wrong and injury that we are all doing to
the boy by petting and pampering him, and humouring his every whim,
however outrageous it may be. So you will give me your promise to be
very patient with him, won't you? I know that he has been atrociously
rude and provocative to you, but--"

"Please say no more," I interrupted. "I think I may safely promise you
that no rudeness or pr