“Why, you'll kill your father, as sure as ever God made you, my girl.” “But we should soon come back—and with money enough to help them here tremendously! He has promised that; and you don't know how well off he is, Missy. Yes, yes, we should soon come back after we were married!” “I dare say—after that,” said Missy dryly. “Then you don't think he—means——” “Of course he doesn't.” “How do you know?” “Never mind how I know. It's enough that I do know, as sure as I'm standing under this tree. You've told me quite sufficient. I feel as if I knew your man as well as I've known two or three. The brutes! And I tell you,'.ella, that if you go to him now, as you thought of doing, your life will be blasted from this night on. He will never marry you. He hasn't gone the right way about that. No, but he'll ruin you and leave you in your ruin; and when he does, may the Lord have mercy on your soul!” She had said. And the extraordinary emotion which had gathered in her voice as she went on had the effect of taking Arabella out of herself even then. “Missy,” she whispered—“Missy, you are crying! How can you know so much that is terrible? You seem to know all about it, Missy!” “Never mind how much I know, or how I came to know it,” cried the other. “I know enough to want to save you from what some girls I've known have come to. To say nothing of saving your dear old father's life. For kill him it would.” Arabella had been marvelling; but now her own difficulty clutched her afresh. “He will kill me if I don't go to him. He has said so,” she moaned in her misery, “and he will.” “Not he! He's a coward. I feel as if I knew the beast—and precious soon I shall.” Arabella started. “What do you mean?” said she. “I mean that you've got to leave your friend to me. I'll soon settle him.” Missy spoke cheerily. Her new tone inspired confidence in the breast of Arabella, who whispered eagerly, “How can you? Ah, if you only could!” “You would like it?” “I should thank God! O Missy, I have been such a wicked, foolish girl, but you are so strong and brave! I shall love you for this all my life!” “Will you? I wonder,” said Missy. “But never mind that now. Go you back to the house, and if I don't come to your room in less than half an hour and tell you that I've sent Mr. Stanborough about his business——” “Hush!” exclaimed the other in low alarm. “I hear him now. He is coming to look for me.” It was a very faint sound, but terror had sharpened the girl's ears. It was the sound of a walking-stick swishing the dry grass on the further slope of the gully. Missy heard it also when she bent her ear to listen, and the next moment she had her companion by the shoulders. “Now run.” said she, “and run for your life. No, we've no time for any of that stuff now. Time enough to thank me when I come and tell you I've sent him to the right-about for good and all. Run quickly—keep behind the trees—and all will be well before you're an hour older.”