Before she could collect her scattered senses to reply the crowd surged in between them; the old man was borne one way, Brownie and her companion the other, and she only caught one more glimpse of a pair of deep, fathomless eyes, filled with keenest pain, a white, set face, its lips livid and rigid. Then she found herself in the fresh, cool air, and Adrian Dredmond saying, in tones of apology: “You will excuse him, Miss Douglas; he is an old man.” “Certainly; but he startled me somewhat,” she answered, drawing a deep breath; and before she could ask if he knew who the strange gentleman was, she found they were beside the Coolidge carriage. “Really, Miss Douglas, is it you at last? You have kept us waiting until we are tired,” exclaimed Isabel, peevishly. “I hope you have not been troubled, Mr. Dredmond,” apologized Mrs. Coolidge, graciously, and giving Brownie a withering look. “Oh, no; it has given me pleasure to attend Miss Douglas,” blundered the young man, saying the very worst thing possible. “I am sorry to have kept you waiting, Mrs. Coolidge, but the crowd detained us, and my cloak caught upon one of the seats,” explained Brownie. “Crowd, indeed! I’ve seen governesses before this who liked to flirt,” sneered the irate Isabel under her breath. Both Mr. Dredmond and Miss Douglas caught the insolent words, and they aroused all the fire in the young girl’s blood. With the air of a queen, she turned, as she was about entering the carriage, and holding out her little hand, she said to Mr. Dredmond. “Thank you, Mr. Dredmond, for your kindness, and good-night.” He bowed low over her hand, then assisting her to enter the carriage, lifted his hat to the others and turned away, but not before he had noted the menacing looks cast upon the poor little governess for her audacity. “Miss Douglas, please step this way one moment,” Mrs. Coolidge commanded, in icy tones, upon entering the house. She led the way toward the library, Brownie following with head erect, and a mien which even the fashionable and imposing Mrs. Coolidge could not subdue. “I wish it distinctly understood, Miss Douglas,” the matron began, with a look which would have annihilated the young girl had she possessed less of the spirit of heroes within her, “that hereafter you are to receive no attention from gentlemen while you remain in my employ. Miss Isabel’s prospects are not to be interfered with by you.” Brownie’s red lips curled with scorn. She met her glance proudly and without the quiver of a nerve. “Mrs. Coolidge, I have not the slightest desire to interfere in any way with Miss Coolidge’s prospects. The occurrence of this evening was wholly unpremeditated as far as I am concerned. But, madam, I wish it distinctly understood upon my part, that if the insults to which I have been subjected to-night are ever repeated I shall consider my connection with you at an end.”