The Lady Dorothy Byng was in her chamber upstairs, pacing the floor, with bent head, restlessly, and very pale indeed. Lorry lay on the broad step in the window-place, watching her with pathetic, uncomprehending eyes. She was certainly unhappy. But why? Was it because, for a whole day, she had missed that frolicking Dick? Or was she unwell? Oppressed by the air of misfortune around him, whereunder no one laughed, or ran, or had their regular meals, Lorry lifted his black nose and gave a piteous, half-strangled whine. But even that, he found, did not draw his lady's eyes from the oaken floor, nor stay her pacing feet, nor bring a word from her closed lips. So she walked, and Lorry watched, for hours, till the sun came hot and hotter on the dog's back and threw the devices of the casement glass upon her Ladyship's white dress as she passed him, splashing her with colour one minute, and leaving her to go cold and gray into the shadow the next. Suddenly she stopped with a start. Lorry, growling, bounded up to the casement and laid his nose on the sill. How foolishly men built their houses, he thought, for here, strain as he might, the casement was too high for him to see round into the yard, and yet he knew it was full of horses and men, strangers all. "He is come!" cried her ladyship. "Too soon. He shall not have me till the time!" She was trembling now. Lorry was too much occupied in barking, with anger and menace, to heed her. There were steps, running steps, in the corridor. Someone tried the latch. Lorry, changing his tone with bewildering suddenness, leapt across to the door, over-turning a stool on his way. He then set up such a scratching and pawing, with such frantic leaps and such joyous, echoing barks as made her Ladyship's brain whirl. Above the clamour she caught Dick's shrill cries. "Cousin Dorothy! Open! Open, Cousin Dorothy! Be quick!" Be quick! She flew, like Lorry, unbolted her door, and, catching Dick in her arms, went near smothering him with kisses. Lorry's wild efforts to be kissed also were unnoticed, and he could only find Dick's hair and the tip of one ear, which he industriously worked at, leaping, barking, and wagging his tail. "He's come, Dick," her ladyship murmured. But Dick, drawing back, and holding Lorry's head down by main force, so that he could speak without having his mouth licked, said: "You're safe, Cousin Dorothy--safe." "There are men in the yard, Dick!" she said quickly. "Our men," he said proudly. "And--oh, dear Cousin Dorothy,--where shall I begin?" "Here," she said, drawing him down on the floor as she sank into a chair. "And you shall tell me first, Dick, you are safe--unhurt. That you have really come back. Lorry and I--we may as well confess it--" "You thought I'd run away?" She looked down at him remorsefully. "You must try and forgive us," she said. "I'll forgive you," Dick cried. "I'd forgive you anything. And what might you expect of a coward like me?"