"Miss Clorindy, yer sorrow makes yer forget yerself; yer've ben a dreaming." Clo drew her apron from her eyes and looked at him; lightning was gathering there which he would have done well to heed, but he did not. "Does yer mean that?" she demanded, sternly. "Sartin, I does." "Yer denies kneelin' at my feet an' sayin', "Wasn't de onions made yer cry;" a pleadin' and a coaxin' till I 'sented to marry yer." "In course I does," repeated Dolf, doggedly. "Take care! Jis' tink!" "Miss Clo, dis ere ain't decorous; I'se 'stonished at yer!" With a bound like an unchained tigress Clo sprang at him. Dolf dodged, ran behind the startled group, in and out among the chairs, through the kitchen, back again, and Clo at his heels. She had caught up a broom; once or twice she managed to hit him, and her sobs of rage mingled with Dolf's cries of distress. "Take her off," he shrieked; "ketch a hold of her!" "I'll kill him," shouted Clo. "I'll break every bone in his 'fernal body! Oh, yer varmint, yer cattle!" They laid hands on Clorinda at length, though it was a difficult operation; and Dolf took refuge behind a great chair, peeping through the slats at the back, with his eyes rolling and his teeth chattering like some frightened monkey in a cage. The women were consoling and blaming Clo; Vic divided between conviction and anger, and Othello, like a sensible man, siding neither way. Suddenly they were roused by a prolonged cry from the floor above, a cry so shrill and unearthly that it froze the blood in their veins. In an instant there followed a loud knocking at the outer door, and forgetful of their own troubles, they crowded together like a flock of frightened crows driven from a cornfield. CHAPTER LXXV. UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS. The evening had passed very pleasantly to Elsie; Mellen had humored her caprices at whatever cost to himself, and kept her thoughts as much aloof as possible from the events of the past days. It was growing late, and he had several times reminded her that it was time she went to rest. Tom Fuller had taken the first hint and retired. "Let me sit up a little longer," she pleaded; "I am not in the least sleepy; it is so nice to get out of that dull chamber." "But I am afraid you will tire yourself so completely, that to-morrow you cannot come down at all." "There is not the slightest danger of that; I am stronger than you think. When this little dizziness in my head leaves me I shall be quite well." They talked a few moments longer, then she began turning over the papers on a stand near her sofa. Suddenly she took up a letter, and glancing at the writing, exclaimed: "This is from Mr. Hudson! You did not tell me that you had heard." "It came this afternoon while you were asleep." "What does he say? Does he know where she is? Will you send him money for her?" "There is no necessity." "But she must have it; she can't live."