His look and his voice awed Fanny in spite of her bewilderment and her loathing, and she suffered herself passively to be drawn into the room. He closed and bolted the door. She threw herself on the ground in one corner, and moaned low but piteously. He looked at her musingly for some moments, as he stood by the fire, and at last went to the door, opened it, and called "Harriet" in a low voice. Presently a young woman, of about thirty, appeared, neatly but plainly dressed, and of a countenance that, if not very winning, might certainly be called very handsome. He drew her aside for a few moments, and a whispered conference was exchanged. He then walked gravely up to Fanny "My young friend," said he, "I see my presence is too much for you this evening. This young woman will attend you--will get you all you want. She can tell you, too, that I am not the terrible sort of person you seem to suppose. I shall see you to-morrow." So saying, he turned on his heel and walked out. Fanny felt something like liberty, something like joy, again. She rose, and looked so pleadingly, so earnestly, so intently into the woman's face, that Harriet turned away her bold eyes abashed; and at this moment Dykeman himself looked into the room. "You are to bring us in dinner here yourself, uncle; and then go to my lord in the drawing-room." Dykeman looked pleased, and vanished. Then Harriet came up and took Fanny's hand, and said, kindly,-- "Don't be frightened. I assure you, half the girls in London would give I don't know what to be in your place. My lord never will force you to do anything you don't like--it's not his way; and he's the kindest and best man,--and so rich; he does not know what to do with his money!" To all this Fanny made but one answer,--she threw herself suddenly upon the woman's breast, and sobbed out: "My grandfather is blind, he cannot do without me--he will die--die. Have you nobody you love, too? Let me go--let me out! What can they want with me?--I never did harm to any one." "And no one will harm you;--I swear it!" said Harriet, earnestly. "I see you don't know my lord. But here's the dinner; come, and take a bit of something, and a glass of wine."