The wife hurried after her fainting husband, and Amy started also; then reflected that it was she who had brought Fayette to the house, and was, in a measure, responsible for what had since happened there. But the lad gave her time for neither reproof nor question, as he eagerly exclaimed:-- "'Twa'n't none o' my doin's. She made me. She told me to set here an' keep Mr. Wingate in, an' if he broke out I wasn't to let him. I don't know what for. I didn't ask questions. 'Twa'n't none o' my business, anyway. So I was just trying to jab him back. She fed me first rate. Say, is that your brother?" "Yes. Oh, Hal! what shall we do?" "You run to the house and see if mother wants anybody to go for the doctor, while I try to help this boy stop up the doorway. It's going to rain, and it would break father's heart if anything here were harmed." A curious smile crossed the stranger's face, but he advanced to lend his aid to the lad, Fayette, and succeeded in getting the parts of the door so far into place that they would prevent any damage by rain, except in case of severe storm. The broken lock was, of course, useless, and as the mill lad saw the cripple fingering it, he remarked:-- "You needn't be scared. I'll stay an' watch. I won't march to-night. Oh, I can do it all right. I often stay with the watchmen round the mill, an' I've got a good muscle, if anybody wants to tackle it," with which he glared invitingly toward the late prisoner. A protesting groan was the only reply; and the lad received this with a snort of disdain. "Druther let old scores rest, had ye? All right. Suits me well enough now, but I ain't forgot the lickin's you've given me, an' I ain't goin' to forget, neither." Fayette's look was again so vindictive that Hallam interposed, fearing another battle between these uninvited guests. "Well, I wish you _would_ watch here for a while. As soon as Cleena can be spared, she shall bring you a blanket. And anyway, if you'll keep everything safe, I'll try to find something to pay you for your trouble." "Hmm, I'd take your donkey an' give back considerable to boot." "My donkey? Balaam? Well, I guess not." "I could do it. I could, first rate. I've got money. It's in the savings bank. 'Supe' put it in for me." "I couldn't think of it, not for a second. Mr. Wingate--is it?" "Archibald Wingate, and your kinsman, young sir." "So I heard my mother say. She would wish you to come to the house with me, and we'll try to make you comfortable. I must go--I am wild to know what is wrong with my father." "We will, at once," answered the other, coldly. "Your father was always weak--was never very rugged, and he hasn't lived in a way to make himself more robust. A man's place is in the open; not penned like a woman behind closed doors and windows." "Beg pardon, but you are speaking of my father."