"Eh? Stop!" cried Saul fiercely. "How do we know that this is not an impostor?" "A what," roared the young man fiercely. "Stop, if you please," said Gertrude. "Mr Saul Harrington is only a visitor here, Mr George, and has no right to make such a demand of you." "Mind what you are saying," cried Saul angrily. "I am minding what I am saying, sir. You have no right to ask such questions." "What? Not in your behalf?" "No, sir," interposed their visitor sharply, as he took his cue from Gertrude; "no right at all." "I was not speaking to you," said Saul roughly; and the two men stood glowering at each other, Saul having rather the best of it, till Gertrude spoke hastily, in dread of a quarrel: "If there is any need for Mr George Harrington to prove his identity, it should be to Mr Hampton and Doctor Lawrence." "Who are they?" said the young man sharply. "My dear guardians," replied Gertrude. "Seems rather a strange thing," said the young man, giving Gertrude a reproachful look, and then metaphorically setting up his hackles as he turned defiantly upon Saul, "that I come back to England, at my grandfather's invitation, to my own place, and find some one, who has no right, beginning to dictate to me as to what I am to do." "I don't know about dictating," said Saul, who grew more calm as the stranger became excited; "but you don't suppose, sir, that I, as my uncle's representative, am going to stand by and let a perfect stranger enter upon the place, and take possession. What proof have I that you are George Harrington?" "Proof? Didn't I send up my card?" "Card!" cried Saul contemptuously. "Oh, if that isn't enough I can give you plenty more proofs," cried the young man quickly. "Stop, Mr George Harrington," said Gertrude, warmly espousing his cause. "Mr Saul Harrington assumes too much. I am my guardian's representative at The Mynns till his grandson comes and takes possession. I decline, then, to let you be treated in this uncalled-for way." "Thank you, my dear, thank you," cried the young fellow sharply. "Now, Mr Saul Harrington, what have you got to say to that?" "Gertrude, you'll repent this," cried Saul, whose jealous rage and disappointment swept away the calm manner he had assumed. "Perhaps so. But if she does, I suppose it's no business of yours, sir. He has no right to bully you, has he, my dear?" Gertrude flinched a little at this over-friendly, familiar way; but she thought to herself that George Harrington had led a rough life out in the West, and it was well meant. She could not help leaning, too, towards the man who had, she felt, a right to champion her, and he had come now to protect her and defend her against one whom now she literally loathed. She replied then eagerly: "None whatever, Mr George. This is your home, too, and he has no right to interfere upon your taking possession." She held out her hand to him, and looked him frankly in the eyes, as she said quickly: