"Come in here a moment," said Dudley, in the same dry, abrupt manner as before; "I want to speak to you." Max followed him into the ante-room, and Dudley shut the sitting-room door. "That girl," said he, with, a frown--"where did you pick her up? At the wharf?" "I met her there. She was walking about outside, afraid to go in. The old woman had left her there alone, with a--a--dead body in the place." At these words a change came over Dudley's face. "You had better have left her alone," said he, sharply. "I wonder you hadn't more sense than to take up with a girl like that." Max fired up indignantly. "Like what? There's nothing wrong with the girl--nothing whatever. Surely her behavior to-night showed you that." "Her behavior!" said Dudley, mockingly. "Do you mean her behavior to me, or to you?" "Both. It was that of a modest, straightforward girl." "Very straightforward--to me. Very modest to you. But I would not waste too much time over her virtues if I were you." "I don't want to waste any," replied Max, shortly. "I don't see how we can shake her off, since she has offered to go back to the wharf with us. But I shall only be alone with her for the few minutes you leave us here. Or, better still, I'll go with you, and wait while you see your friend." "What friend?" "I thought you said you had an appointment with some one, and were going to put him off." "Oh, yes. Well, let us go to him now." And Dudley softly opened the outer door. Max perceived that what he proposed was to give Carrie the slip. He drew back a step. "We can't go without telling her, at least _I_ can't. The girl's quite right. It would be safer for her to go with us. For it's an awful place, not fit to trust oneself in." "And you think it would be the safer for the presence with us of one of the gang?" "She is not one of the gang!" cried Max, involuntarily raising his voice. "I'd stake my life on there being no harm in her!" The door of the sitting-room was opened behind them, and Carrie came out. "I couldn't help hearing what you said," she said, quietly. "But you needn't quarrel about me. One of you says there's no harm in me; the other says there is. I dare say you're both right. If you don't want me to go to the wharf with you, Mr. Horne, why, I won't go, of course. Good evening." She wanted to go out, but Dudley stood in the way, preventing her. "You're quite wrong, I assure you," said he, quickly. "There has been a little discussion about it, certainly; but I think you and my friend are quite right, and it would be much better if you would go with us--much better. Pray don't be annoyed at anything I've said. Remember, I have never seen you before, while my friend, who knows you better, naturally appreciates you more." Carrie maintained an attitude of cold stolidity while Dudley spoke. "Am I to go with you now, then?" she asked, coldly, when he had finished speaking.