t to see what was the matter, Mary Wells was the first.

The owner of the dog instantly whistled, and the sportive animal ran to
him; but Lady Bassett was a good deal scared, and went in holding her
hand to her side. Mary Wells hurried to her assistance, and she cried a
little from nervousness when the young woman came earnestly to her.

"Oh, Mary! he frightened me so. I did not see him coming."

"Mr. Moss," said Mary Wells, "here's a villain come and frightened my
lady. Go and shoot his dog, you and your son; and get the grooms, and
fling him in the horse-pond directly."

"No!" said Lady Bassett, firmly. "You will see that he does not enter
the house, that is all. Should he attempt that, then you will use force
for my protection. Mary, come to my room."

When they were together alone Lady Bassett put both hands on the girl's
shoulders, and made her turn toward her.

"I think you love me, Mary?" said she, drinking the girl's eyes with
her own.

"Ah! that I do, my lady."

"Why did you look so pale, and your eyes flash, and why did you incite
those poor men to--It might have led to bloodshed."

"It would; and that is what I wanted, my lady!"

"Oh, Mary!"

"What, don't you see?"

"No, no; I don't want to think so. It might have been an accident. The
poor dog meant no harm; it was his way of fawning, that was all."

"The beast meant no harm, but the man did. He is worse than any beast
that ever was born; he is a cruel, cunning, selfish devil; and if I had
been a man he should never have got off alive."

"But are you sure?"

"Quite. I was upstairs, and saw it all."

This was not true; she had seen nothing till her mistress screamed.

"Then--anything is fair against such a villain."

"Of course it is."

"Let me think."

She leaned her head upon her hand, and that intelligent face of hers
quite shone with hard thought.

At last, after long and intense thinking, she spoke.

"I'll teach you to be inhuman, Mr. Richard Bassett," said she, slowly,
and with a strange depth of resolution.

Then Mary Wells and she put their heads together in close discussion;
but now Lady Bassett took the lead, and revealed to her astonished
adviser extraordinary and astounding qualities.

They had driven her to bay, and that is a perilous game to play with
such a woman.

Mary Wells found herself a child compared with her mistress, now that
that lady was driven to put out all her powers.

The conversation lasted about