“No, no, you must not take your own way to help me. Wait--I must just ask Mr. Jacynth to do something for me. Then I will come back and talk to _you_,” murmurs Fenella, frightened, therefore sweetly deceitful. Then drawing her mentor apart, while Castleton eagerly fastens on the prey she has left, she entreats: “Help me. Keep the count and Frank from fighting; anything but that!” “For goodness’ sake get rid of De Mürger. He is so _embroiling_,” counseled Jacynth. “How can I? After bringing him here a long journey to-day, can I whistle him away to-morrow?” she responds with naïve indignation. “It is as bad as putting back the bottle-imp.” “Then you--some of us must leave. The situation is too strained.” “You advise flight; and I, who am just spoiling for a fight, as the Irish say----” she was actually laughing again, it was too bad. “If you will stay, let me make you acquainted with my sister Helen, Grandison’s mother,” said Jacynth softly, pity stirring his heart-strings for this young creature. “She is a good sort--a genuine woman.” “Thank you,” said Fenella absently, looking round. “What is the count about; and where is Ronny?” CHAPTER VI. BY F. C. PHILLIPS. The next morning Jacynth called upon his sister and explained to her that he wished her to extend a helping hand to Lady Francis Onslow. He had told Fenella that his sister Helen was “a good sort--a genuine woman,” and he was, therefore, disagreeably surprised when he found the view that lady took of the situation. “Lady Francis Onslow?” she said, raising her eyebrows. “She is separated from her husband, is she not?” “Yes, but it is not her fault,” answered Jacynth quickly. “Onslow treated her very badly.” “I remember something about it,” said his sister. “I think there was a kind of shuffling of the cards and a new deal. Lord Francis took up with a Frenchwoman and his wife consoled herself with M. de Mürger. Is not that the story?” “It is a garbled account of it. Lady Francis was perfectly innocent,” said Jacynth hotly. “I have no doubt, but all the same I think I would rather have nothing to say to her. It is always a foolish thing to interfere between husband and wife.” “I do not ask for your interference, Helen,” said her brother. “I merely ask you to let me introduce you to Lady Francis, and I should like you to be kind to her.” “Why are you interested in her?” “Because I think she has been badly treated, and because she is an impulsive, reckless little woman who will benefit much from your advice.” “I dislike impulsive, reckless little women,” said Helen, “and I would much rather not know her.” “You are very unkind, dear, and quite unlike your usual self. Lady Francis has got herself into a fix, and you must really get her out of it--to please me.” “What fix has she got herself into?”