Scythrop meanwhile vainly endeavoured to get rid of Mr Glowry and to pacify Stella. The latter attempted to escape from the tower, declaring she would leave the abbey immediately, and he should never see her or hear of her more. Scythrop held her hand and detained her by force, till Mr Hilary reappeared with Mrs Hilary and Marionetta. Marionetta, seeing Scythrop grasping the hand of a strange beauty, fainted away in the arms of her aunt. Scythrop flew to her assistance; and Stella with redoubled anger sprang towards the door, but was intercepted in her intended flight by being caught in the arms of Mr Toobad, who exclaimed--'Celinda!' 'Papa!' said the young lady disconsolately. 'The devil is come among you,' said Mr Toobad, 'how came my daughter here?' 'Your daughter!' exclaimed Mr Glowry. 'Your daughter!' exclaimed Scythrop, and Mr and Mrs Hilary. 'Yes,' said Mr Toobad, 'my daughter Celinda.' Marionetta opened her eyes and fixed them on Celinda; Celinda in return fixed hers on Marionetta. They were at remote points of the apartment. Scythrop was equidistant from both of them, central and motionless, like Mahomet's coffin. 'Mr Glowry,' said Mr Toobad, 'can you tell by what means my daughter came here?' 'I know no more,' said Mr Glowry, 'than the Great Mogul.' 'Mr Scythrop,' said Mr Toobad, 'how came my daughter here?' 'I did not know, sir, that the lady was your daughter.' 'But how came she here?' 'By spontaneous locomotion,' said Scythrop, sullenly. 'Celinda,' said Mr Toobad, 'what does all this mean?' 'I really do not know, sir.' 'This is most unaccountable. When I told you in London that I had chosen a husband for you, you thought proper to run away from him; and now, to all appearance, you have run away to him.' 'How, sir! was that your choice?' 'Precisely; and if he is yours too we shall be both of a mind, for the first time in our lives.' 'He is not my choice, sir. This lady has a prior claim: I renounce him.' 'And I renounce him,' said Marionetta.