"Honey, chile, don't you go for to 'cept dat wilyun's 'pology! Ef he done really cum in dis room by accident, he would agone out ag'in when he found dat a young lady occupied de room. But no; de first sight my ole brack eyes saw when I jumped off my pallet and come to de door was dat strange man a-kissin' you, my precious lamb." Golden began to sob, and Mr. Chesleigh mentally anathematized the old woman's long tongue that had thus betrayed the secret he had intended to keep so carefully. His face grew scarlet as he hastened to say: "I kissed your hand, Miss Glenalvan, and I entreat your pardon for yielding to that overmastering temptation. Can you forgive me?" But Golden was still weeping bitterly, and old Dinah, in her fear and indignation for her darling, pointed quickly to the door. "Go," she said. "Don't you see how you frighten the chile by staying?" There seemed nothing to be gained by staying. The old woman was utterly unreasonable, and Golden was so agitated she could not speak. The embarrassed intruder silently withdrew to his own apartment, where he spent the night brooding over the strange discovery he had made and the unpleasant position in which he had placed himself. CHAPTER VII. "Honey, chile, where did you git 'quainted wid dat ondecent man?" inquired old Dinah of her nursling, as soon as Mr. Chesleigh had quitted the room. "What makes you think I am acquainted with him, mammy?" inquired the child in surprise. Dinah shook her woolly head sagely. "Don't try to deceabe your ole brack mammy, my lamb," she said. "He called you Missie Glenalvan--do you think I didn't notice that?" Golden's pretty cheeks grew scarlet with blushes. "I shall have to 'form your grandpa of what he done, the impident wilyun!" continued Dinah, emphatically. "Oh, black mammy, please don't tell," cried the girl impulsively. "You heard what he said--it was a mere accident, I am quite, quite sure he meant no harm." "Ole massa shall be de jedge o' dat," replied Dinah decidedly. "I'll miss my guess if de ole man don't put a pistol-hole frew my fine, han'some gentleman!" "Oh, black mammy! then you shall not tell," cried Golden in terror. "Indeed, indeed, he is not the wicked man you believe him. He has kept my secret for me, and I must keep his now. That would only be fair." "Ah, den you _do_ know him," cried Dinah, horrified. "Tell me all about it dis minute, if you know what's best for you, chile." Golden did not resent the old nurse's tone of authority. She knew the old woman's love for her too well. She dried her eyes and reluctantly related her escapade two nights before. "He kept my secret," she concluded, "and it would not be fair for us to make trouble for him, would it, black mammy?" Old Dinah had slipped down to the floor, and sat with her long, black arms clasped around her knees, looking up into her nursling's eager, fearful face, with a good deal of trouble in her keen, black eyes.