although he may
grumble a bit. If he catches you, and you find his temper particularly
bad, just mention the dog Gelert to him. I told him the story this
morning and it produced a great impression on his mind."

"He'll hunt me," said Sabina tearfully. "Whatever dog I might talk to
him about he'll hunt me."

"If he does," said Meldon, "I'll engage you myself. We'll be wanting a
girl as soon as ever we go home, to look after the baby a bit and do
the cooking and washing, and keep the whole place clean generally.
You'd like to come and live in the house with me, wouldn't you, Sabina?"

"I'm not sure would I."

"You would. There's no doubt about it. But we need not discuss that
yet, for I don't expect Mr. Doyle will sack you. What I really want to
talk to you about is that judge. Where is the judge?"

"He's gone," said Sabina.

"I know that," said Meldon. "But he'll come back all right. He must
come back for his luggage."

"He will not then. It's not an hour ago since Patsy Flaherty, the same
that does be driving the car, came in and said he had orders to take
all the luggage there was and the fishing-rods, and the rest of
whatever there might be in the place belonging to the gentleman."

"He was not taking them to the train, I suppose?"

"He was not then, but up to Ballymoy House."

"Nonsense! He couldn't possibly have been taking them up to Ballymoy
House."

"It's what he said any way, for I asked him. And he told me that the
gentleman had it made up with the young lady that does be stopping
there beyond, the way he'd go and live with her."

"This," said Meldon, "is perfectly monstrous. I must go and see about
it at once. He has evidently been bullying that unfortunate Miss King,
coercing her with threats until she has agreed to board and lodge him.
I can't have that sort of thing going on under my very eyes. You'll
excuse me, Sabina, if I run away from you. It's absolutely necessary
that I should go up to Ballymoy House at once. I'll borrow Mr. Doyle's
bicycle again."

He went out through the back door into the yard, and found Doyle
stabling his pony.

"I suppose," he said, "that I can have your bicycle again. Affairs
have taken a turn which I'm bound to say I did not foresee. I have to
get at that judge as soon as possible. He seems to have been
ill-treating Miss King. I expected that he'd go for her over that
paraffin oil affair, but--"

"Amn't I telling you," said Doyle, "tha