Em. turned deadly sick at heart and ghastly pale with mortification and disappointment. But before her faltering lips could form a reply another voice came from the open door, saying defiantly: “I am very glad to hear that, madam; for after this week I shall require all the young lady’s society all to myself. Yes, and with her consent I mean to retain it just so long as we both shall live.” CHAPTER XII LOVE IN THE TOILS You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well go bid the mountain pines Still their high tops and make no further noise, When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do anything most hard, As seek to alter that (than which, what’s firmer?)— His stubborn heart. SHAKESPEARE. The speaker was Commodore Bruce, who stood in the doorway, with one hand leaning on his ivory-headed cane and the other against the frame of the door. “Oh, it is you, uncle! You quite startled me. Please come in,” said Mrs. Bruce, recovering from her momentary panic. “Thank you. I intended to,” said the old man, advancing and sinking into the great cushioned arm-chair which Em., rallying from her shock, had wheeled for his accommodation. “Sit down, child; it is not good for young spines to stand up too much,” he added as he settled himself comfortably. Em. took a chair at a little distance and picked up the needlework on which she had been engaged the day before. “You say you will not require the services of this young lady after next Saturday?” inquired the commodore. “Yes, I have told her so; the work we have on hand will be finished by that time, and I shall have no more for her,” answered Mrs. Bruce, considerably modifying the tones of haughtiness and contempt with which she had spoken to the poor girl. “I am very glad to hear you say so, for I would like to have her services all to myself, to read or write for me.” “But, my dear uncle, Ronald would be most happy to do all this for you.” “Yes, and look confoundedly bored all the time. No; I want this girl.” “If you must have a young girl, I am sure our niece, Hermia, would be delighted to——” “Well, I shouldn’t, then; there!” “Or I, myself, if you would accept my services, would be——” “Thanks, very much, my dear, I will not trouble you.” “Well, then, there is Mrs. Warde, who really is a very fine elocutionist——” “But I don’t want to be elocutionized; particularly by Mrs. Warde. Malvina is a fine woman for her age, but she has a voice between a trumpet and a hand-saw. I want Miss Palmer and no one else,” persisted the veteran.