When he did come, she was not thinking of his coming. He was shown into the dining-room, and within a minute afterwards the Countess entered with stately step. She was well dressed, even to the adjustment of her hair; and she was a woman so changed that he would hardly have known her as that dear and valued friend whose slightest word used to be a law to his father,--but who in those days never seemed to waste a thought upon her attire. She had been out that morning walking through the streets, and the blood had mounted to her cheeks He acknowledged to himself that she looked like a noble and high-born dame. There was a fire in her eye, and a look of scorn about her mouth and nostrils, which had even for him a certain fascination,--odious to him as were the pretensions of the so-called great. She was the first to speak. "You have called to see my daughter," she said. "Yes, Lady Lovel,--I have." "You cannot see her." "I came at her request." "I know you did, but you cannot see her. You can be hardly so ignorant of the ways of the world, Mr. Thwaite, as to suppose that a young lady can receive what visitors she pleases without the sanction of her guardians." "Lady Anna Lovel has no guardian, my lady. She is of age, and is at present her own guardian." "I am her mother, and shall exercise the authority of a mother over her. You cannot see her. You had better go." "I shall not be stopped in this way, Lady Lovel." "Do you mean that you will force your way up to her? To do so you will have to trample over me;--and there are constables in the street. You cannot see her. You had better go." "Is she a prisoner?" "That is between her and me, and is no affair of yours. You are intruding here, Mr. Thwaite, and cannot possibly gain anything by your intrusion." Then she strode out in the passage, and motioned him to the front door. "Mr. Thwaite, I will beg you to leave this house, which for the present is mine. If you have any proper feeling you will not stay after I have told you that you are not welcome." But Lady Anna, though she had not expected the coming of her lover, had heard the sound of voices, and then became aware that the man was below. As her mother was speaking she rushed down-stairs and threw herself into her lover's arms. "It shall never be so in my presence," said the Countess, trying to drag the girl from his embrace by the shoulders. "Anna;--my own Anna," said Daniel in an ecstacy of bliss. It was not only that his sweetheart was his own, but that her spirit was so high. "Daniel!" she said, still struggling in his arms.