"I shall be very glad to retract them, and apologise," said the baronet calmly; and then he busied himself in fixing his glass, for the little toy terrier had suddenly made a dead set at one end of the couch, where from beneath the chintz cover there peered out one very large prominent and peculiar eye, which kept blinking at the terrier in the calmest manner, its owner never attempting to move in spite of the angry demonstrations of the newcomer. At last its demonstrations became so loud that, not seeing the great eye himself, the baronet rose slowly, drove the terrier into the back drawing-room and closed the door. "A little new to the place, don't you know," he said. "There, I'm going now; I did not mean to blacken Mr Melton's character, but ask your brother to inquire. Sorry for any man to go to the bad. Gone regularly. Good-day." He took Maude's hand and kissed the tips of her fingers, while she was too much agitated to resist. Then backing to the door, he smiled, kissed his glove, and was gone. "Oh, this is monstrous!" cried Maude in anguished tones, when she remembered the note and opened it hastily, to read a few lines full of manly love and respect; and as she read of her wooer's determination never to give her up, her heart grew stronger in its faith. "I knew it was false," she exclaimed, proudly. "How dare he calumniate him like that!" Then going to a writing table, she glanced at her father, saw that he still slept, and, blushing at her duplicity, she wrote a note, folded it so that it would go in the tiny leather pocket, and in a low voice called the dog. Joby came out directly, and laid his great head in her lap, while the note was securely placed in its receptacle. "Now go to your master, good dog," she cried, kissing him once more, and at the word "master" Joby started to the door and looked back, when Maude followed and opened it. The dog trotted downstairs and settled himself under the porter's chair in the hall till the door was opened. Then he trotted off to his master's chambers. Meanwhile, as soon as she had despatched her messenger, Maude seated herself upon the carpet by her father, and laid her cheek against his hand. He opened his eyes directly, saw who it was, and laid his other hand upon her head. "Ah, Maude, my pet," he said. "I have, been sitting here with my eyes closed." "Yes, papa. Did you hear what Sir Grantley Wilters said?" "No, my child. Has--has--he been here?" "Yes, dear." "Then I suppose I must have been quite asleep." "Yes, papa--for quite an hour.--Papa, dear." "Yes, my love." "I cannot rest happy with any secret from you," said the girl, with averted head, and her cheeks burning for shame at the clandestine correspondence she was carrying on. "That's right, my darling," said the old man, patting the soft fair hair and smoothing it over her forehead. "Papa, dear," she continued, after a long pause, during which she fought hard to nerve herself for what she had to say.