I
stay here and do my work, Mrs Rimbolt, I claim to be protected from
insult."

"It is useless to prolong this interview, Mr Jeffreys," said Mrs
Rimbolt, half-scared by the turn things had taken. "I never expected to
be addressed in this way in my own house by one who is dependent on my
husband for his living. You can leave me, sir."

Jeffreys bowed, and retired to his room, where he awaited as calmly as
he could what appeared to him the inevitable end of the scene--a notice
to quit.

But it did not come. Mrs Rimbolt knew herself to be in the wrong. Her
husband, she knew, if she laid the case before him, would judicially
inquire into its merits, and come to the same conclusion. In that case
her dominion would be at an end. Even the Mrs Rimbolts have an eye to
the better half of valour sometimes, and so Jeffreys was left sitting
for an ultimatum which did not come.

Raby had a still worse ordeal before her. At first her indignation had
reigned supreme and effaced all other emotions. Gradually, however, a
feeling of vague misery ensued. She longed to be away in India with her
dear soldier father; she wished Jeffreys had never come under the
Wildtree roof to bring insult on himself and wretchedness to her. She
dreaded the future for her boy cousin without his protector, and half
wished him dead and safe from temptation.

In due time her brave spirit came back. She despised herself for her
weakness, and, resolved boldly to face her aunt and every one, she came
down to dinner.

It was strictly a family party, with Mrs Scarfe added; for the other
three visitors had not yet returned from Windsor. Raby sought
protection from her aunt by devoting herself to Mrs Scarfe, and quite
delighted that good lady by her brightness and spirit. Mrs Scarfe took
occasion in the drawing-room afterwards to go into rhapsodies to her
young friend regarding her son; and when about ten o'clock the holiday-
makers arrived home, in high spirits and full of their day's sport, she
achieved a grand stroke of generalship by leaving the two young people
together in the conservatory, having previously, by a significant
pressure of her son's arm, given him to understand that now was his time
for striking while the iron was hot.

Scarfe was in an unusually gay mood, and still a little elevated by the
festivities of the day.

"I'm sure you missed us," said he, "didn't you?"

"The house was certainly much quieter," said Raby.

"Do y