“Who gave you the right to read that, and to interfere in my affairs?” demanded Edward hotly. “Miss Muir” was the reply, as Coventry threw away the paper. “And you add to the insult by ordering her out of the house,” cried Ned with increasing wrath. “On the contrary, I beg her to remain.” “The deuce you do! And why?” “Because she is useful and happy here, and I am unwilling that your folly should rob her of a home which she likes.” “You are very thoughtful and devoted all at once, but I beg you will not trouble yourself. Jean’s happiness and home will be my care now.” “My dear boy, do be reasonable. The thing is impossible. Miss Muir sees it herself; she came to tell me, to ask how best to arrange matters without troubling my mother. I’ve been to town to attend to your affairs, and you may be off now very soon.” “I have no desire to go. Last month it was the wish of my heart. Now I’ll accept nothing from you.” And Edward turned moodily away from his brother. “What folly! Ned, you _must_ leave home. It is all arranged and cannot be given up now. A change is what you need, and it will make a man of you. We shall miss you, of course, but you will be where you’ll see something of life, and that is better for you than getting into mischief here.” “Are you going away, Jean?” asked Edward, ignoring his brother entirely and bending over the girl, who still hid her face and wept. She did not speak, and Gerald answered for her. “No, why should she if you are gone?” “Do you mean to stay?” asked the lover eagerly of Jean. “I wish to remain, but--” She paused and looked up. Her eyes went from one face to the other, and she added, decidedly, “Yes, I must go, it is not wise to stay even when you are gone.” Neither of the young men could have explained why that hurried glance affected them as it did, but each felt conscious of a willful desire to oppose the other. Edward suddenly felt that his brother loved Miss Muir, and was bent on removing her from his way. Gerald had a vague idea that Miss Muir feared to remain on his account, and he longed to show her that he was quite safe. Each felt angry, and each showed it in a different way, one being violent, the other satirical. “You are right, Jean, this is not the place for you; and you must let me see you in a safer home before I go,” said Ned, significantly. “It strikes me that this will be a particularly safe home when your dangerous self is removed,” began Coventry, with an aggravating smile of calm superiority. “And _I_ think that I leave a more dangerous person than myself behind me, as poor Lucia can testify.” “Be careful what you say, Ned, or I shall be forced to remind you that I am master here. Leave Lucia’s name out of this disagreeable affair, if you please.”