‘Then she must abide by the consequences. I will have nothing more to do with her. I can’t bear the girl. I never could.’ ‘Will you give her a character?’ ‘I shall see about it. I’ll give her one for impudence if she applies.’ ‘Don’t you think you’re hard upon her? She says she has relatives partly dependent upon her.’ ‘A mother and a sick sister, I believe she has; but I don’t see that that’s any business of mine.’ ‘Have you found her a good servant in other ways? Is she truthful? Does she work well?’ ‘I think those brazen-faced girls do speak the truth—they have no shame about anything. People say that bad-tempered servants do most work, and I cannot complain of Betsy upon that score; but I can’t imagine what earthly reason you can have for taking up her cause.’ ‘I am not aware that I am taking up anyone’s cause. I merely want to know a few facts. Betsy Long is a good servant, with a bad temper; is not that about the state of the case?’ ‘I don’t know your idea of a good servant; mine is that she should know how to keep her place. If you’re trying to trap me into saying I’ll have Betsy back again, you’d better save your breath, for nothing would induce me to do it. Are you satisfied now?’ ‘Perfectly so, thank you; and I will now wish you good-morning.’ Mrs. Belassis smiled as she walked up the drive to her own door. ‘I think he has taken the bait,’ she said to herself. ‘Men are so soft.’ Tor could hardly be said to be soft. He did not give any special heed to this incident of the forlorn Betsy; but he felt sufficient indignation at Mrs. Belassis’ hardness, and compassion for the girl’s distress, to be wishful to do something to place her in a better position. He told Maud and Aunt Olive what had occurred, and they at once suggested that a place might be made for her in the Ladywell household. They could do with another maid very well, especially as Maud often wanted some assistance with her elaborate toilettes; and she fancied that Betsy was a handy sort of girl with her fingers, though she had not given her much work of that kind at Thornton House. Anyone upon whom Mrs. Belassis had trampled, would be sure to be gladly received by Maud; and under these favourable auspices Betsy Long entered into service at Ladywell Manor. CHAPTER VIII. BETROTHED. As Tor sat at dinner with Maud and Mrs. Lorraine, about three days after his return from Germany, a pencilled note was brought to him, which he was told had been sent in urgent haste from Mr. Meredith’s house. The note was from Roma, and only contained a few words. ‘My father has been taken dangerously ill. He wants you. Can you come at once? ‘R. M.’ Tor handed the note to Aunt Olive, and rose from the table. ‘I suppose I must go. I hope it may be nothing serious. Poor girl! it is a hard thing for her to be so much alone at a time like this. I will be back as soon as I can. Good-bye.’