"And I promise you that you cannot go," returned the governess, decisively. "My faith! you go, you go, you go; yesterday, today, tomorrow; and where are your studies? I might as well take my departure; I am of no longer use." "I wish I was that douanier," spoke the young lady with an angry stamp, looking out at the preventive man pacing the edge of the plateau. "I wish you were--for one day; you would soon wish yourself back again into yourself, Miss Thornycroft. Will you sit down and begin your studies?" "No; it is too hot to work. German would give me the headache today, mademoiselle." "I wish your papa, Monsieur the Justice, was at home. I would appeal to him." "So would I. I wish he was! Papa would not make me do lessons against my will." "Will you come into the other room to your harp, then?" "No," reiterated Miss Thornycroft. "When I don't want to work, I can't work; and, excuse me, mademoiselle, but I _won't_. There! I am invited out today, and I want to go. Mrs. Sam Copp is going to Jutpoint, and she is to take me." Mademoiselle got up in despair. Day by day, she saw it well, her authority was getting less. "Miss Mary Anne, hear me! _I will not have you go_. I defend you to quit the house." Mary Anne laughed disobediently. "I shall go if Captain Copp comes for me, mademoiselle." Mademoiselle wrung her hands. "I will go and find Mr. Richard. He is master here when the justice is not. I will lay the case before him and say, 'What am I to do with this rebellions child?'" She quitted the room on her search. Miss Thornycroft went to the window and leaned out, wishing herself once more the preventive man, or anybody else who had not a governess. At that moment she saw her brother Isaac go running on to the plateau from the direction of the village, stand a minute talking with the coastguardsman, and then come vaulting down towards the house. It has not been mentioned that a line of light railings enclosed the plateau below the round tower--a boundary line between it and the Red Court grounds. Isaac Thornycroft leaped the railings, and saw his sister. She called to him in a voice of earnestness; he came round to the front entrance and entered the room. Handsome in his careless grace, and bright as the summer's morning. He wore light cool clothes, his linen was curiously white and fine; looking altogether, as he always did, a noble gentleman. Richard would be in coarse things, unbrushed and shabby, for a week together; the brothers had quite opposite instincts. Mary Anne went up to him with a pleading voice and tears in her eyes, all her assumption of will gone. "Oh, Isaac!--dear Isaac! won't you help me? You are always kind." "My little dove! what is it?" She told her tale. Her engagement with Captain and Mrs. Copp, and mademoiselle's cruel hardheartedness. Isaac laughed outright. "Cruel hardheartedness, indeed! worse than that of Barbara Allen. My pretty one!" he whispered, stooping until his lips touched her cheek.