usion that she must have loved this villain.

The hilt and stump of sword clattered in the fireplace, whither she
hurled it. A moment she caught her face in her hands, and a sob shook
her almost fiercely. Then she came past his lordship, across the room to
Mr. Caryll, Rotherby making no shift to detain her.

"Take me away, sir! Take me away," she begged him.

Mr. Caryll's gloomy face lightened suddenly. "Your servant, ma'am," said
he, and made her a bow. "I think you are very well advised," he added
cheerfully and offered her his arm. She took it, and moved a step or two
toward the door. It opened at that moment, and a burly, elderly man came
in heavily.

The lady halted, a cry escaped her--a cry of pain almost--and she fell
to weeping there and then. Mr. Caryll was very mystified.

The newcomer paused at the sight that met him, considered it with a
dull blue eye, and, for all that he looked stupid, it seemed he had wit
enough to take in the situation.

"So!" said he, with heavy mockery. "I might have spared myself the
trouble of coming after you. For it seems that she has found you out in
time, you villain!"

Rotherby turned sharply at that voice. He fell back a step, his brow
seeming to grow blacker than it had been. "Father!" he exclaimed; but
there was little that was filial in the accent.

Mr. Caryll staggered and recovered himself. It had been indeed a
staggering shock; for here, of course, was his own father, too.

CHAPTER IV. Mr. GREEN

There was a quick patter of feet, the rustle of a hooped petticoat, and
the lady was in the arms of my Lord Ostermore.

"Forgive me, my lord!" she was crying. "Oh, forgive me! I was a little
fool, and I have been punished enough already!"

To Mr. Caryll this was a surprising development. The earl, whose arms
seemed to have opened readily enough to receive her, was patting her
soothingly upon the shoulder. "Pish! What's this? What's this?" he
grumbled; yet his voice, Mr. Caryll noticed, was if anything kindly; but
it must be confessed that it was a dull, gruff voice, seldom indicating
any shade of emotion, unless--as sometimes happened--it was raised in
anger. He was frowning now upon his son over the girl's head, his bushy,
grizzled brows contracted.

Mr. Caryll observed--and with what interest you should well
imagine--that Lord Ostermore was still in a general way a handsome man.
Of a good height, but slightly excessive bulk, he had a face that still
reta