The scene that followed is one which no author would care to dwell upon. But, losing all control over himself, the fat and burly showman advanced with his fist clenched and eyes aflame, and no doubt might have done poor innocent Lotty serious injury. But just at that moment came a fresh actress on the scene, in the person of Crona herself. Dressed as usual in the clean starched mob-cap or mutch, her tartan plaid and garments fluttering around her in the breeze blowing off the sea, a long staff in her hand, and Joe the raven on her shoulder, she appeared as suddenly as if she had sprung from the earth, and interposed her presence 'twixt the showman and child. 'Back!' she almost screamed, 'back, Biffins Lee. Lay but a finger on that child, and there is an end to your show and to your career as well.' 'How dare you, woman! Who are you that interferes with the legal right of a parent to reprimand a disobedient child?' 'Who am I, Biffins Lee?' she repeated. Then she made one step towards him and hissed something in his ear. [Illustration: 'Father, father,' she cried, 'I cannot, _will not_ do this.' LASS. PAGE 224. ] Lee started as if shot, and stood there before the witch, pale, perspiring, and trembling. But Crona only laughed. 'Come with your fairy godmother, darling.' She placed an arm around Lotty, and together they left the stage. CHAPTER XXII. THE AMBITIONS OF CHOPS JUNIOR. 'To--run--away--Miss Lotty?' Chops was gasping. 'Miss Lotty, did ye say--run--away?' 'Oh yes, Chops, I fear I had to say--run away. But you won't tell anybody ever, will you?' 'Never, never, never,' said Chops with curious solemnity. 'Because, you know, Chops, I've always told you everything, and I dare not go away without telling you this. Mary is good, and so is Skeleton; but they would try to argue me out of going, and if _he_ knew he would kill me I think.' 'Miss Lotty, who is '_e_?' 'Mr Biffins Lee,' said Lotty quietly, sadly, with her eyes turned towards the stars, but seeing them not. 'Yer _father_, Miss Lotty?' 'The man who says he is my father,' she said slowly and deliberately. Then, 'Oh Chops, there is a mystery, a strange, strange mystery that I must not even tell you yet. But Crona knows it all.' 'Mustn't--tell--me yet? Ye said "yet," didn't ye, Miss Lotty?' 'I said "yet."' 'But then some day I'll know, won't I? So I'll live in 'opes o' that some day. An' some day,' this queer boy went on, 'some day summat helse be agoin' to 'appen. Ye know the song, Miss Lotty, "'E never told 'is love"? Well, that's me. An' I'm goin' to be honest an' straight with ye as ever was. An' till the day w'en by savin' an' savin' I makes a bit o' money, an' is old enough to lead ye to the halter, I'm goin' to be a helder brother to ye. So 'elp me, Billy-o.'