the bed room and so out here the knocking was repeated and a female voice exclaimed through the key hole let mo in frank i know you are there for i hear your mb tou are mistaken there miss mary observed the door and admitting the visitor mr is out and when he will return is very uncertain the new arrival was a young woman of considerable beauty small but exquisitely shaped and whose keen blue eyes and lavish wealth of rich brown hair seemed to recall to robert some familiar face if that were so the recognition did not appear to be mutual who is he inquired the young woman pointing without a trace of shyness at then carrying tier finger on towards mr and he they are two of my master s friends whom i had no particular orders to introduce to you miss mary answered they are here by appointment then and waiting for him well i shall wait for him too with that she the seal skin cloak she wore and sitting down with her back turned towards put up her pretty feet upon the you may stop or go away miss mary just as you please � thank you interrupted she with sharp contempt i shall take advantage of your gracious permission and stop well that can only end in disappointment miss mr frank is away miles away and as you have been already informed by his own hand is not coming back again to day nor any day so there is this true gentlemen cried the girl rising suddenly from her chair and looking from one t m i have no s master whether this man is telling me truth or not help me as mr did not even look towards her but appeared more busily engaged with his map than ever robert thought himself called upon to reply no man with a heart in his bosom looking on that pathetic pleading face could have refused to do so and far less kind hearted robert who moreover at once him of one in the far off forest who might one day be praying for some longed for news of him � in vain indeed miss said he tenderly i believe the man is telling you the truth at least i came myself today to see mr � mr � and have failed in doing so they told me he would not be here and is it true � you are young and kind and have an honest face you would not tell me a lie i feel � that frank � that mr is going far away � abroad p indeed miss it is at these words the little seemed to shrink within herself and dropping into her seat again covered her eyes with her hands to hide the tears that she could no longer restrain here touched mr on the shoulder and that gentleman rose at once and passing softly but quickly across the floor opened the bed room door and closed it behind him the next moment the outer door of the bed chamber was heard to open and a rapid step to descend the stairs that s him � that is frank s footstep exclaimed the girl starting to her feet and rushing to the door jt is not it is only mr observed coldly she ran out however � herself ot mb the fact by leaning over the and presently came back again looking very tearful and excited what have you done with him where is he asked she of if you will not tell me where he is at least tell me he is oh he s well enough so far as that goes answered dick carelessly he was not well when i saw him last not looking like himself at all he had some trouble on his mind � was going down upon some unpleasant business he said into the and that made him take to what is so bad for him more than ever returned contemptuously if you mean no was ever hurt by yet if you mean weakness of another sort � a foolish passion for your pretty face that s over you liar cried the girl her moist eyes darting fire her cheeks you wicked cruel liar laughed contemptuously you pretend to love him you she went on with bitterness it is you who are his worst you lead him on to drink you flatter and encourage him whenever he is bent n what is wrong and dangerous you � you will be his ruin be quiet shouted keep a civil tongue in your head � you won t then just you walk out of this room and take my word for it that it is the last time you ever see the inside of it i will not stir cried she robert knew her now her face � generally resolute and scornful as at but sometimes soft and pleading � j on half the pictures on the wall then i will put you out c s master advanced towards her holding out his huge hand the expression of his face was so grim and fierce that she before it frank frank exclaimed she with a passionate cry why why are you not here to strike him dead the huge hand was almost on her wrist and she like some graceful animal fascinated by beast ox standing motionless save for the trembling of her limbs before him when robert suddenly bounded between them and whirling her light form towards one of the of the apartment snatched out his sword from its rusty and it in s face i am not mr frank miss cried he but i ll strike him dead if he lays a finger on you and let me tell him that if his master is the man i take him for he will have an account to settle with him for threatening 