As it was, Barbara saw and understood the utmost extent of his amazement, hesitation, and curiosity—perhaps it piqued her, for she suddenly exclaimed— “Well, sir! since you have come on business, bring it to a conclusion. Question me, sir. Question me, sir. I had far rather be questioned by a gentleman, than see him stand silent before me, suffering the pangs of suppressed curiosity!” The blood rushed to Lord Montressor’s brow, and half in displeasure, half in amusement, he replied— “I regret very much that I have such a tell-tale countenance—but I am sure you will pardon me for the involuntary betrayal of the surprise I felt, at finding so young and handsome a woman, in so novel a position.” Barbara bowed—lowly, and perhaps ironically. “You arraign me, sir! if not in words, yet in thought. I am put upon my defense. Come, sir! read the indictment—let me hear wherein I have broken the laws of God or man.” (“What a termagant!” thought Lord Montressor; but he said)— “Nay, indeed, Miss Brande, I arraign you not—I simply _wonder_—begging pardon, for even so much.” (“He thinks I am a vixen,” said Barbara to herself; then aloud)— “There is no need of wonder, sir. It is all very simple. I am left guardian to two boy brothers, whom I am to support, and to bring up to self-support. I chose the means best fitted to the end.” “But might not some more—I beg pardon, I grow impertinent.” “Not so, since I have challenged examination, sir!—you were about to inquire——?” “Whether some more proper feminine occupation might not have been found?” “I thought so! there it is again! What, precisely, do you call proper feminine occupation?—sewing? teaching? acting? keeping boarders? selling goods?” Barbara drew a long and deep inspiration, that seemed to relieve her breast of the weight of these thoughts, and resumed—“No, sir—these may all be sufficiently feminine, but they require certain qualifications in which, happily or unhappily, I am deficient; they also involve confinement, subordination, and patronage—which my soul could not, for an instant, brook! For I am born to freedom, independence, and domination!” “Yet, methinks all these are not incompatible with the life of a hostess, a teacher, or a shopkeeper.” Barbara laughed scornfully. “Yes, Miss Brande, it does suggest itself to me that a sufficiency of freedom, independence and domination might be found in a house of your own, a school of your own, or a shop of your own.” “And still more in a SHIP of my own!” cried Barbara—her black eyes flashing in triumph and exultation. Lord Montressor regarded the handsome Amazon, with an expression half of admiration, half of wonder. She continued—