"Whereupon Lady Ashton was highly offended and very angry. Charles was quiet, but firm, all they could urge was useless, he would not hear of it.) "It might answer in Arthur's case" he returned, by the way Ada is it not strange we have never heard anything of them, poor Louisa, I suppose boarding school did not answer her expectations, as she left it so soon." "Can you wonder at it, situated as she was." "It was natural no doubt, and Arthur could be so winning, he always was a favourite with the ladies." "Oh well, he is a nice fellow you must admit." "I don't deny it, I always liked him very much, but still I think that sort of thing, is not right, but he always was impetuous, never considered anything, but just acted on the spur of the moment, and he is very soft hearted" he added laughing. "I wonder if the old gentleman knows it." "Your mother was always ambitious for him, don't you remember how afraid she was about Isabel" asked Ada. "Yes, and the daughter of his tutor does not come up to the mark." "I should think her own daughter's child might at all events." "But she never regards her in that light, never will I fear." "Somebody wishes to see you Sir, very particularly please," said Thomson. "Who is it? Thomson." "Don't know I'm sure Sir, she would not give any name, but is very anxious to see you, I said you were engaged, but she replied I that she must see you to-night, it was very important." "What sort of a person is she?" asked Ada. "A lady madam, quite a lady I should say, only in trouble, she says she knew master in America." "I must see her, I suppose, where is she." "In the study, sir." The stranger was standing by the fire-place, as he entered she made an impatient gesture for him to close the door, then threw herself at his feet passionately imploring him to help and protect her, and throwing aside her thick vail, disclosed the features of Louisa, but so altered that he was perfectly shocked and amazed. He could scarcely believe that the haggered emaciated being before him, was indeed the pretty, impulsive, fiery, Louisa, but such was the case, and anger, compassion and indignation filled his heart, as he listened to the recital of her misfortunes. As the reader is already acquainted with a portion of Louisa's story, we will not repeat it here, but only record such circumstances as have not appeared in these pages. On arriving at her grandfather's she encountered a storm of angry abuse, and was driven from the door with a stern command never to return, as she had forfeited all claims upon him, and might die in a ditch for all he cared. She managed to get about a mile from the house, and then overcome with fatigue and misery she sank down exhausted.