“Don’t be silly, Lil. You know I didn’t mean to hurt you; and, if we did come to blows, you would be just as likely to hurt me. But do tell me where Miss Lane is.” “She’s gone.” “Gone! Alone?” “No. Stephen has gone with her; and it was I who sent him,” said she, defiantly. “Oh, to annoy me, I suppose?” “Partly, perhaps--you and George. I thought there had been quite fuss enough made about the little governess, and I thought that Stephen, being a cripple, and, therefore, not quite so rough as you, would make her a safer escort.” Without a word in answer, Harry gave her a sharp box on the ear, and swung himself into the hall over the balusters, dashed into the garden, and plunging into a shrubbery to a short cut to the road, came out scratched and breathless a few yards behind Miss Lane and Stephen. “You had better go in, Stephen, or you’ll make your cold worse. I’ll see Miss Lane safely home,” said he, abruptly. A hot flush came over the cripple’s face. “You’ve grown very considerate for me--for once,” he said, bitterly. “Did Lilian send you?” “No; it would have been better for her if she had.” “What have you done to her?” cried Stephen, anxiously. “I’ve only boxed her ears for impertinence,” said Harry, haughtily. “You brute! How dared you? I wish George had seen you.” “George was lying on his back in the picture-gallery, where I left him.” A sharp cry escaped the lips of the little governess. “What! You have hurt your brother--perhaps killed him!” “I haven’t hurt him, Miss Lane,” said Harry, with an uncomfortable blush. “I shouldn’t have touched him if he hadn’t wanted to prevent my seeing you home. You will let me now, won’t you?” said he, with sudden gentleness. “Thank you. Mr. Lawler has offered to take me,” answered she, freezingly. “But Mr. Lawler has a bad cold, and ought not to be out at night.” “Then I will go home alone.” Harry turned white with rage. The handsome lad was not used to snubs from women of any class, when he took the trouble to pay them any attention. Stephen’s eyes gleamed maliciously. “You won’t send me back? The air won’t hurt me in the least; I am out in it every night,” said he, eagerly. She could not refuse the cripple, and, bowing very coldly to Harry, she went on with Stephen toward the Vicarage.