Mrs. Force had sent off her children to bed, in charge of their eldest sister and the governess, while she herself remained in the empty parlor, walking up and down its whole length, and trying to think what would be her best course in the present crisis. She had, for the time being, the room all to herself. The other guests of the house were either in their own apartments, or on the piazzas, overlooking the rapids, or at tea, or abroad. At any rate, the lady was alone, until she was joined by the colonel, who came confidently, not to say impudently, up to her side. "Angus Anglesea! how did you dare to recognize and accost me?" she demanded, her blue eyes blazing with indignation. "Because I was so surprised and delighted to see you, Friday!" he replied, with gay defiance. "I should think the sight of me would blast your eyes!" "Don't swear, Friday! At least, don't swear in that way. 'Blast your eyes' is a low, seafaring phrase. I know it is provoking to have me come, when you had got away so far and felt so secure! Well, it was as great a shock to me! By Jove! we looked at each other for a moment like a pair of ghosts! Didn't we? But talking of 'blasts,' I don't mind confessing that the sight of you did nearly strike me blind, but it was through your dazzling beauty! By Jove, Friday, you are ten thousand times handsomer now than you were when you turned the head of His Royal----" "Be silent! If you dare to name that devil to me again----" "Quite so! I am dumb! I am mute. But don't use strong language, Friday! It is bad form. You must have picked up the habit in America." "Look you here, Angus Anglesea! Mr. Force intends to invite you to visit us at our country house, down in Maryland." "He has invited me. Deuced kind of him! And I have accepted the invitation," put in the colonel, twirling his light mustache. "You will not go. You will have the decency to avoid the roof of an honorable man." The colonel's face flushed crimson. His brow darkened with anger. For a moment he lost even the superficial semblance of a gentleman, and showed himself a ruffian in tone and manner. "Look you, my Lady Elfrida! You take a dangerous tone toward me who holds your fate in the grip of his hand!" he exclaimed, stretching out his arm, and working his fingers. "Yes, and who would not hesitate, under provocation, to tighten that grip to your destruction. But there! We should serve, not ruin, each other. Now listen to me, Friday. If you will behave yourself, I will hold my tongue. Otherwise----But I need say no more. You understand me." "I understand you to be an unmitigated villain!" muttered the lady, fiercely, between her clenched teeth--"an incarnate fiend!"