The mutual start of amazement which followed shook both man and maid out of the chill precincts of the conventionalities. "My God--_Jane_!" exclaimed Mr. Towle. "What are you doing in this house?" This pertinent inquiry brought Jane to herself with all the speed and thoroughness of a dash of cold water. "I am working for my living," she replied haughtily. Mr. Towle stared helplessly at the girl. "I have come," he said at last, "to fetch you home." "If you wish to talk to me," said Jane defiantly, "you will be obliged to come around to the back door. I will ask my mistress if I may speak with you in the kitchen for a few minutes. But there isn't any use of talking," she added. "I will not go home--at least not yet." Then she shut the door in his face. Mr. Towle said something fierce under his breath; after which, without any hesitation whatever, he looked about for the kitchen entrance. "I'll talk with her," he said, "if I have to go to Hades to do it." In the meanwhile Jane was interviewing her mistress. "Mr. Towle has come to see me, ma'am; may I speak with him in the kitchen for a few minutes?" she asked with haughty subservience. "Mary is out; and Master Belknap is playing in his sand pile." Mrs. Belknap was in the act of putting the finishing touches to a dainty costume. She stopped short and faced about. "_Who_ is Mr. Towle?" she demanded. "He is a friend of--of Uncle Robert's, from England," replied Jane, rather sullenly to her mistress's thinking. "Dear, _dear_!" murmured Mrs. Belknap, eying her pleasing reflection in the glass with a frown. "This is _too_ much! And I was just on the point of going out to a reception; now, of course, I shall be obliged to----" Jane looked up suddenly. "I don't wish to talk with him," she said. "Then why not send him away? Wait! I will go down myself and speak with the man. I _hope_ you haven't left him _alone_ below stairs. There have been so many burglaries lately. He is in the kitchen, I suppose." Jane smothered a hysterical laugh, as Mrs. Belknap's rustling skirts swept down the rear staircase. She heard her young mistress's distinct American voice in a tone of displeased surprise. Then a door closed sharply, and the girl heard a man's retreating steps passing beneath the open window. "He must be horribly vexed," she murmured; "but I'll _not_ go back to England." She did not choose to question herself too sharply as to her reasons for this dogged resolution. But she reflected that Mr. Towle appeared much older since she had last seen him. Mrs. Belknap called her presently from below stairs. "I am going now, Jane; for I really must stop at Mrs. Brown's tea if only for a few minutes. But I shall not be away long. Keep your eye on Buster _every moment_; I am told there are gypsies about. And, Jane, if Mary isn't back by five you must open the draughts of the range and prepare the vegetables."