There was no hesitation now in her movements. She walked sharply along the tiled floor, with the great-leaved plants brushing her arm, straight for the open doorway through which a subdued light showed the form of leaf and spray, and stepped at once into the dimly lighted drawing room, where a similar scene was being enacted to that in which she had so lately taken part. Here seemed to her to be the reason why Isabel had not kept her appointment, for, as she entered, Sir Cheltnam was standing half way down the room, his back toward her, and holding Isabel's hands tightly in his, as, half banteringly, he put aside as folly every appeal and protest uttered by the now frightened girl. Isabel was striving vainly to release herself when she caught sight of the dark figure of the nurse, framed, as it were, in the conservatory doorway, and, uttering a cry of joy, she now wrenched her hands away from their visitor's grasp, and before Burwood could check her she ran to Elisia's side, clung to her, and panted excitedly: "Nurse--nurse--don't leave me--pray, pray stay here!" "My poor child!" whispered Elisia, as she bent over the hysterical girl, and drew her tightly to her breast. "Hush! hush! for everyone's sake try and master it. You are quite safe now." "Yes--yes; quite safe now," sobbed Isabel. "Don't--don't leave me here." Sir Cheltnam, meanwhile, had stood in the middle of the room speechless with fury, for the interruption had been completely unforeseen. It was understood with Aunt Anne and Alison that he was to win from Isabel her consent to an early marriage that very night, and those who had promised their help had carefully arranged that the _tete-a-tete_ should have no one to mar its course. But the little bit of grit had, as is often the case, made its way into the mechanism, and the wheels had so suddenly come to a stoppage that the baronet was for the moment utterly confounded. It was only a few minutes before that, in the dining room, Alison had for about the fifth time consulted his watch, and then said quickly: "There, old chap, it's all right now. She will be alone in the drawing room, so off with you, and say all you like." "You think the old man will not make any objection--on account of his illness, you know?" "Not an objection. Never fear. There, quick; be off." "What a hurry you are in!" "Well, you wished me to be," said Alison sharply, and hardly able to keep from referring again to his watch. "Humph! Yes," said the baronet; and they parted, each to follow out his plans, which seemed too well made to fail. "Take me to my room now," whispered Isabel, as she clung tightly to her protectress, whose face was bent down so that her lips rested upon the girl's wavy hair. "I will not stay here to be insulted," she cried, as indignation was beginning fast to take the place of fear. "It is shameful. It is too cruel of Aunt Anne. She left me on purpose."