ting for the boat.

CHAPTER III.

IN WHICH ERNEST CALLS UPON MRS. LORAINE.

"I BEGAN to fear that you did not intend to return, young gentlemen,"
said Mrs. Loraine, as the Splash came up on the leeward side of the
pier. "I am afraid this young lady has given you a great deal of
trouble."

"No trouble at all," I replied.

"She is a wayward and disobedient girl. I have trouble enough with her,
but I do not wish to have her trouble other people," continued Mrs.
Loraine; and I could see that the glances she bestowed upon her
step-daughter were full of malice.

"She seems to have some trouble herself, or she wouldn't have jumped
into the lake."

"She would not have done that if she hadn't seen your boat close by,"
added the lady.

"I fear she will take cold," said I, wishing to draw the woman out as
much as possible.

"There is no danger. She would be in the water half the time if I would
let her. She is a troublesome girl."

Mrs. Loraine certainly took the matter quite coolly, and did not seem to
realize or to believe that the troublesome miss had actually jumped into
the lake to escape from her cruelty. She told Kate to get out of the
boat, and go into the house. The terrified girl obeyed in silence, and
with trembling frame.

"Go to your room, and put on dry clothes," she added, as Kate walked up
the pier. "She is a very naughty girl; but I am much obliged to you,
young gentlemen, for the trouble you have taken on her account."

"We were very glad to serve her," I replied, fastening the painter of my
boat to a ring in the pier, as the lady walked towards the house.

Bob and I stepped on shore and followed her--a movement which seemed to
annoy her very much; but we were too decidedly in earnest to care what
she thought or felt. Without any consultation with my companion, I had
by this time made up my mind that Miss Kate had the rights of the case;
that Mrs. Loraine was a female tyrant. I did not consider that her
family affairs did not concern me, and I had already concluded to adopt
the policy of intervention, without regard to consequences.

Mrs. Loraine was a lady, so far as her manners were concerned. There was
nothing coarse or brutal about her. Like our old enemy, Mr. Parasyte,
she appeared to be a refined tyrant, whose oppression was all the more
intolerable because it was smooth and polished. The lady walked at a
dignified pace towards the house, and we followed her at a respectful
distan