ear? I feel nervous."

"I am sorry, Lady Janet."

"You are very good. Do you know what I am going to do?"

"No, Lady Janet."

"I am going to summon the household. When I say the household, I mean
the men; the women are no use. I am afraid I fail to attract your
attention?"

"You have my best attention, Lady Janet."

"You are very good again. I said the women were of no use."

"Yes, Lady Janet."

"I mean to place a man-servant on guard at every entrance to the house.
I am going to do it at once. Will you come with me?"

"Can I be of any use if I go with your ladyship?"

"You can't be of the slightest use. I give the orders in this house--not
you. I had quite another motive in asking you to come with me. I am more
considerate of you than you seem to think--I don't like leaving you here
by yourself. Do you understand?

"I am much obliged to your ladyship. I don't mind being left here by
myself."

"You don't mind? I never heard of such heroism in my life--out of a
novel! Suppose that crazy wretch should find her way in here?"

"She would not frighten me this time as she frightened me before."

"Not too fast, my young lady! Suppose--Good heavens! now I think of it,
there is the conservatory. Suppose she should be hidden in there? Julian
is searching the grounds. Who is to search the conservatory?"

"With your ladyship's permission, _I_ will search the conservatory."

"You!!!"

"With your ladyship's permission."

"I can hardly believe my own ears! Well, 'Live and learn' is an old
proverb. I thought I knew your character. This _is_ a change!"

"You forget, Lady Janet (if I may venture to say so), that the
circumstances are changed. She took me by surprise on the last occasion;
I am prepared for her now."

"Do you really feel as coolly as you speak?"

"Yes, Lady Janet."

"Have your own way, then. I shall do one thing, however, in case of your
having overestimated your own courage. I shall place one of the men in
the library. You will only have to ring for him if anything happens. He
will give the alarm--and I shall act accordingly. I have my plan," said
her Ladyship, comfortably conscious of the card in her pocket. "Don't
look as if you wanted to know what it is. I have no intention of saying
anything about it--except that it will do. Once more, and for the last
time--do you stay here? or do you go with me?"

"I stay here."

She respectfully opened the library door for Lady Janet's departure as
s