his head again. But even
the basest of the yokels and groundlings could not make merry over the
cozening of so noble a gentleman! And now, because of your faith in his
magnanimity, you summon him forth in an ice-storm at your 'utmost need,'
all careless of his suffering, at the risk of his life. And he, fool
that he is, without even a question, regardless of all that has come
and gone--or, more foolish still, forgiving and forgetting--obeys your
behest! You have taken all he had left, you cruel woman!--his life, this
time, his life, _his life_!"

Gladys literally cowered under this storm of words, as if the pitiless
hail had beaten on her own head. But as Lillian, her arms outstretched,
her voice broken into shrill cries, rushed to the door, Mrs. Briscoe
sprang forward, caught her arm, and sought to detain her. "What are you
going to do, Lillian?"

"To raise the country-side, the county--to search for all that the storm
and the floods and that baneful woman have left of him!"

She broke away hastily from the restraining clutch of Gladys, who,
following her closely, saw her reel backward as if in shrinking affright
from a shadowy figure standing in the dim hall.

X.

Julian Bayne, his long coat covered with snow and jingling with icicles,
his chill face scarlet with cold, his lips emitting a cloud of visible
breath, his eyes intent beneath the brim of his frost-rimmed hat, stood
gazing as if petrified by the strange scene he had witnessed just enacted
within, the strange words he had overheard.

"What is all this?" he cried at length. "Did you think I couldn't make
it?" Then to Lillian specially, as he took her hand, "Am I late?" he
asked solicitously. "I made all the speed I could. I hope I haven't
killed the horse."

He glanced over his shoulder through the open door, where he could see a
bit of the snowy drive, on which the groom was slowly leading the animal,
heavily blanketed, up and down before taking him to the stable. Although
sobbing now and again from the stress of his exertions, the horse had
evidently sustained no permanent injury.

"I came instantly," Julian repeated. "What is it?"

"Nothing!" cried Lillian hysterically, clinging to his arm. "They all
think it is _nothing_--nothing at all."

He stared at her somewhat grimly, though evidently mystified.

"Come," he said, "let us get at the rights of this. And I'd really like a
glimpse of the fire--I'm hal