op just as
Florimel appeared.

"MacPhail," she said, sweeping to the stair like an indignant goddess,
"I discharge you from my service. Leave the house instantly."

Malcolm turned, flew down, and ran to the servants' stair, half the
length of the house away. As he crossed the servants' hall he saw Rose.
She was the only one in the house except Clementina to whom he could
look for help. "Come after me, Rose," he said, without stopping.

She followed instantly, as fast as she could run, and saw him enter the
drawing-room. Florimel and Liftore were there. The earl had Florimel's
hand in his.

"For God's sake, my lady!" cried Malcolm, "hear me one word before you
promise that man anything."

His lordship started back from Florimel, and turned upon Malcolm in a
fury. But he had not now the advantage of the stair, and hesitated.
Florimel's eyes dilated with wrath.

"I tell you for the last time, my lady," said Malcolm, "if you marry
that man, you will marry a liar and a scoundrel."

Liftore laughed, and his imitation of scorn was wonderfully successful,
for he felt sure of Florimel, now that she had thus taken his part.
"Shall I ring for the servants, Lady Lossie, to put the fellow out?" he
said. "The man is as mad as a March hare."

Meantime, Lady Clementina, her maid having gone to send her man to get
horses for her at once, was alone in her room, which was close to the
drawing-room: hearing Malcolm's voice, she ran to the door, and saw Rose
in a listening attitude at that of the drawing-room. "What are you doing
there?" she said.

"Mr. MacPhail told me to follow him, my lady, and I am waiting here till
he wants me."

Clementina went into the drawing-room, and was present during all that
now follows. Lizzy also, hearing loud voices and still afraid of
mischief, had come peering up the stair, and now approached the other
door, behind Florimel and the earl.

"So," cried Florimel, "this is the way you keep your promise to my
father?"

"It is, my lady. To associate the name of Liftore with his would be to
blot the scutcheon of Lossie. He is not fit to walk the street with men:
his touch is to you an utter degradation. My lady, in the name of your
father, I beg a word with you in private."

"You insult me."

"I beg of you, my lady, for your own dear sake."

"Once more I order you to leave my house, and never set foot in it
again."

"You hear her ladyship?" cried Liftore. "Get out!" He approached
threatenin