Again the storm burst in a tremendous cheer as Hallam handed his young wife into the chaise, and then there seemed to be another nearing storm, sending its harbinger in a fashion which made firm, self-contained Robert Hallam turn pale, as a hand was laid upon his arm. "He said that if anything did go wrong, he should come back," flashed through his brain. Stephen Crellock was bending forward to whisper a few words in his ear. VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER ONE. THE THORNY WAY--MILLICENT HALLAM'S HOME. "How dare you! Be off! Go to your mistress. Don't pester me, woman." "Didn't know it were pestering you, sir, to ask for my rights. Two years doo, and it's time it was paid." "Ask your mistress, I tell you. Here, Julia." A dark-haired, thoughtful-looking child of about six years old loosened her grasp of Thisbe King's dress, and crossed the room slowly towards where Robert Hallam sat, newspaper in hand, by his half-finished breakfast. "Here, Julia!" was uttered with no unkindly intent; but the call was like a command--an imperious command, such as would be given to a dog. The child was nearly close to him when he gave the paper a sharp rustle, and she sprang back. "Pish!" he exclaimed, laughing unpleasantly, "what a silly little girl you are! Did you think I was going to strike you?" "N-no, papa," said the child nervously. "Then why did you flinch away? Are you afraid of me?" The child looked at him intently for a few moments, and then said softly: "I don't know." "Here, Thisbe," said Hallam, frowning, "I'll see to that. You can go now. Leave Miss Julia here." "Mayn't I go with Thisbe, papa?" said the child eagerly. "No; stay with me. I want to talk to you. Come here." The child's countenance fell, and she sidled towards Hallam, looking wistfully the while at Thisbe, who left the room reluctantly and closed the door. As soon as they were alone Hallam threw down the paper, and drew the child upon his knee, stroking her beautiful, long, dark hair, and held his face towards her. "Well," he said sharply, "haven't you a kiss for papa?" The child kissed him on both cheeks quickly, and then sat still and watched him. "That's better," he said smiling. "Little girls always get rewards when they are good. Now I shall buy you a new doll for that." The child's eyes brightened. "Have you got plenty of money, papa?" she said quickly. "Well, I don't know about plenty," he said with a curious laugh, as he glanced round the handsomely-furnished room, "but enough for that." "Will you give me some?" "Money is not good for little girls," said Hallam, smiling. "But _I'm_ not little now," said the child quietly. "Mamma says I'm quite a companion to her, and she doesn't know what she would do without me." "Indeed!" said Hallam sarcastically. "Well, suppose I give you some money, what shall you buy--a doll?"