n's?"

"Oh, there were a lot of reasons. Jane Denton, who is my greatest
friend--although I don't know why I am so fond of her--was coming here,
and her mother knew Mrs. Merriman, and mother hates ordinary schools,
and she thought this would just do. And then all of a sudden she
remembered that you lived near, although she did not say anything to me
about that, or you may be sure I should have been quite interested. I am
so glad to see you, Lady Jane! And, please, when am I to be introduced
to Irene?"

Rosamund was sorry the moment she had said these words, for over Lady
Jane's face there passed an expression of absolute pain. After a
moment's pause, she said, "Who has told you about my little daughter?"

"Does it pain you for me to speak about her?"

"Answer my question, dear. Who has told you?"

"I think it might have been your kitchen-maid. I will explain to you the
very truth, Lady Jane. You know you asked me to come here to-day, and
you said you would send me back to-night, and I was so pleased; but when
I spoke about it to Mr. Merriman, he said at once that he did not allow
girls to visit friends on Sunday, and that that was one of his strictest
rules."

"And yet you came?" said Lady Jane, her eyes darkening.

"Yes, I came," replied Rosamund, "for I simply couldn't stand it. Why
should I be coerced and told that things were wrong by a man like Mr.
Merriman?"

"A great scholar and a noble gentleman," said Lady Jane quietly.

Rosamund felt herself coloring, and a sense of annoyance swept over her.

"Well, anyhow, I came," she said; "and I suppose you are not going to
send me back now that I have braved the displeasure of every one to come
to you?"

"I will drive you back myself after we have had tea together; and you
must come and spend a week day with me. It was wrong to come, dear, and
it was a pity. When you get to know Mr. Merriman well you will
understand that when he says a thing he means it. I will try and
intercede for you on this occasion. I myself do not think it at all
wrong that you should come and minister to the wants of a lonely woman
on Sunday. I noticed your bright face in church; and although you are
not very like your mother, you have got something of her expression, and
many of the tones of her voice, and it gives me pleasure to converse
with you."

"But why should you be lonely when you have got"----

Just at that moment there was a noise outside, followed by a fierce
scuffle an