"Spare her!" cried Mrs Glaire. "Why should I? Has she spared us? Go, girl, go; your presence pollutes this place." "No, no," cried Daisy. "You mistake me--indeed you do, Mrs Glaire. I did not come back for what you think." "Then why did you come?" "I cannot--dare not tell you; but where, where is Mr Richard?" Tom Podmore turned aside, and moved towards the door. "How dare you ask me," cried Mrs Glaire, "after the promise you made?" "Don't ask me that," wailed Daisy, struggling to her feet, and wringing her hands wildly. "I can't find father. I must see Mr Richard. Harry said he hadn't left the town. Is he here?" "No, girl," said Mrs Glaire, turning away, "he is not here." "Where is he, then? Oh, Mrs Glaire!" cried the girl, "for your own sake tell me. On my knees I beg of you to tell me. It is life and death. I came to save. Miss Eve!" she cried, turning on her knees to her. "You love him; tell me where he is. I know--yes, I know," she cried, eagerly; "he must be at the works." Eve started and turned away her head, to bury her face in her hands. "Yes," cried Daisy, excitedly. "He must be there." She turned hurriedly to go, when Tom Podmore caught at her cloak. "Stop!" he cried excitedly. "You canno' go theer." Daisy turned upon him angrily, and tore off her cloak, leaving it in his hands as she dashed off through the dark with the young man in pursuit. "Undone!" moaned Mrs Glaire. "Undone. Oh, Eve, my poor stricken darling, and after all I have tried!" "But, aunt, he will not see her. Richard will not--" "A false, treacherous girl!" moaned Mrs Glaire. "Eve, my darling, for your sake, for her sake--thank Heaven, here is Dick! Oh, my boy, my darling!" She threw her arms round him exultingly, as if to hold him, and save him from danger, whilst he threw off the heavy coat in which he was muffled. "Phew! I'm nearly suffocated," he cried. "There, that will do, mother. Ah! Eve." "But why did you leave the works, my boy?" cried Mrs Glaire. "Sick of it," cried Richard, hastily. "I'll stay there no more. I'll open to-morrow. Curse the place, it's horrible of a night, and I've finished all the wine. What's the matter with Eve?" "But," cried Mrs Glaire, evading the question, and speaking excitedly, "you must not stay, Richard; you must leave again to-night--now, at once." "Where for?" said Richard, grimly. "London--France--anywhere," exclaimed Mrs Glaire, piteously. "Nova Scotia, or the North Pole," said Richard, savagely. "Damn it, mother, I won't hide from the curs any more. Here have I been for days in that wretched hole." "But there's mischief brewing, Dick, my boy, I am sure there is. You must leave at once." "Let it brew," he cried. "But who was that left the house as I came in?" Mrs Glaire did not answer, only looked appealingly to Eve. "I said who was that came out of the house as I came along--some woman?"