“Why! where ’as the woman gone? Did you see ’er leave the room, ’Arriet?” “I did not! I was too much occupied listening to you,” replied the girl from the table, where she was inditing the answer to Anthony Pennell’s note. “’Ere, Miss Wynward! Miss Wynward!” screamed the Baroness from the open door, but no reply came to her call. “I must go and see after ’er!” she said, as she stumped from the room, as intent upon procuring a good dinner for one young man, as she had been in insulting the other, and turning him from her doors. Meanwhile Captain Hill, hot and angry, was striding away in the direction of his own home, when he heard a soft voice calling his name in the rear. He turned to encounter the spare, humiliated form of Miss Wynward. “Captain Hill,” she ejaculated, “I beg your pardon, but may I speak to you for a moment?” Recognising her as having been in the room, when the Baroness had so grossly insulted him, he waited rather coldly for her to come up with him. “Don’t think me impertinent or interfering,” faltered Miss Wynward, “but I was so shocked--so distressed--I could not let you go without saying how grieved and sorry I am!” “I do not quite understand you,” replied Captain Hill. “O! yes, surely, did you not see me in the room just now! I felt as if I should die of shame! But if you knew what it is to be dependent--to be unable to speak or to expostulate--you would guess perhaps----” “Yes! Yes! I think I can understand. But pray don’t distress yourself about it! It was my own fault! I should have addressed her first through my solicitor. But I thought she was a gentlewoman!” “It is her temper that gets the better of her,” said Miss Wynward in an apologetic tone, “she is not always so bad as she was this morning!” “That is fortunate for the world at large,” replied Captain Hill, gravely. “I could have forgiven her vulgarity, but not her heartlessness. I can only think that she is a most terrible woman.” “That is what everybody says,” answered his companion, “but she will admit of no remonstrance. She _will_ have her own way, and the Baron is as powerless to refrain her, as you, or I. But that she should so insult a gentleman like yourself, even descending to oaths and personalities--O! I cannot tell you how much I felt it--how ashamed I was, and how anxious that you should not confound me with anything the Baroness said, or did!” “Indeed,” said Captain Hill, holding out his hand, “you need have no fear on that score. I hope I know a gentlewoman when I see her! But tell me, since your eyes are open to all this, how is it that a lady like yourself can stay under the roof of so terrible a person? There are plenty of other situations to be had! Why do you not leave her, and go elsewhere?” He was struck by the look of mingled anxiety and fear with which she regarded him.