And then, with a scream of pain, the man stepped backwards and put up his hand to his bleeding face. Lois could not believe the evidence of her eyes. Yet there it was--a long, straight cut, and the little knife with which the woman was sharpening her pencil showed a tiny red stain. Chapter Thirteen “You’re a very naughty boy,” said the countess, intent again upon her pencil-sharpening, “go back and play with your batteries!” and, with a gasp of fear, the man turned and ran blindly from the room, his face dabbled red. There was a dead silence, and then the countess looked up. “I suppose you think I’m very horrid? But Selwyn is difficult at times--shockingly difficult, and shockingly sulky. I must impose my will on him for his own good. And really, he isn’t hurt any more than he would have been if his razor had slipped.” The cold-bloodedness of the thing left Lois breathless and shaken. She could hardly believe that she was not dreaming horribly. “It was rather--drastic, wasn’t it?” she said, speaking with difficulty. Again the dark eyes met hers. “Drastic? Yes. Dr. Tappatt wishes me to be even more drastic. Did you speak to your friend?” “Yes,” said Lois, almost grateful to be lifted out of the scene. “And she will come? How dear of her! I told you I was afraid this morning, Miss Reddle. I don’t suppose you guessed why, even after Moron’s amazing exhibition of childish temper?” Lois did not guess and was wisely silent. Her ladyship made no further reference to the scene. When Lord Moron came to lunch with his face conspicuously plastered, his mother did no more at the end of the meal than say: “Please don’t come to dinner like that, Selwyn. One would imagine you had been in an earthquake.” To which he answered, with a meek: “Yes, madam.” The change of rooms had been effected, and Lois was now in what might very well have been a small state apartment in one of the royal palaces. The new bed had been erected, and as the hour approached for Lizzy’s arrival, the uneasy qualms which Lois had been feeling all day began to dissipate. Though she had given strict injunctions as to the appearance her son should present at dinner, the countess herself dined out. She sent for Lois before she left the house. “If you could amuse Selwyn, please do so. He is quite a good companion if you can reduce your mentality to the level of his. Possibly your friend will find him easier than you,” she added, and Lois would have been amused if she were not a little shocked. Lizzy came promptly at six, bringing with her a battered black bag containing what she described as her “court dress and coronation robes” and the girl prepared her for a shock. “You’re dining to-night with the Earl of Moron,” she said, and Lizzy collapsed into a chair. “I can’t and I won’t,” she said energetically. “I knew there was going to be a catch in this!”