bbing all the time she spoke。 Then the doctor told Mostyn what he thought； and there is a quarrel between them every time they meet。〃
But Ethel was not deterred by these statements； on the contrary； they stimulated her interest in her friend。 Dora needed her； and the old feeling of protection stirred her to interference。 At any rate； she could call and see the unhappy woman； and though Tyrrel was opposed to the visit； and thought it every way unwise； Ethel was resolved to make it。 〃You can drive me there；〃 she said； 〃then go and see Justice Manningham and call for me in half an hour。〃 And this resolution was strengthened by a pitiful little note received from Dora just after her decision。 〃Mostyn has gone to Thirsk；〃 it said； 〃for pity's sake come and see me about two o'clock this afternoon。〃
The request was promptly answered。 As the clock struck two Ethel crossed the threshold of the home that might have been hers。 She shuddered at the thought。 The atmosphere of the house was full of fear and gloom； the furniture dark and shabby； and she fancied the wraiths of old forgotten crimes and sorrows were gliding about the sad； dim rooms and stairways。 Dora rose in a passion of tears to welcome her； and because time was short instantly began her pitiful story。
〃You know how he adored me once；〃 she said； 〃would you believe it； Ethel； we were not two weeks married when he began to hate me。 He dragged me through Europe in blazing heat and blinding snows when I was sick and unfit to move。 He brought me here in the depth of winter； and when no one called on us he blamed me； and from morning till night； and sometimes all night long； he taunts and torments me。 After he heard that you had bought the Manor he lost all control of himself。 He will not let me sleep。 He walks the floor hour after hour； declaring he could have had you and the finest manor in England but for a cat…faced woman like me。 And he blames me for poor Basil's death says we murdered him together； and that he sees blood on my hands。〃 And she looked with terror at her small； thin hands； and held them up as if to protest against the charge。 When she next spoke it was to sob out； 〃Poor Basil！ He would pity me！ He would help me！ He would forgive me！ He knows now that Mostyn was； and is； my evil genius。〃
〃Do not cry so bitterly； Dora； it hurts me。 Let us think。 Is there nothing you can do？〃
〃I want to go to mother。〃 Then she drew Ethel's head close to her and whispered a few words； and Ethel answered； 〃You poor little one； you shall go to your mother。 Where is she？〃
〃She will be in London next week； and I must see her。 He will not let me go； but go I must if I die for it。 Mrs。 John Thomas Rawdon told me what to do； and I have been following her advice。〃
Ethel did not ask what it was； but added；
〃If Tyrrel and I can help you； send for us。 We will come。 And； Dora； do stop weeping； and be brave。 Remember you are an American woman。 Your father has often told me how you could ride with Indians or cowboys and shoot with any miner in Colorado。 A bully like Mostyn is always a coward。 Lift up your heart and stand for every one of your rights。 You will find plenty of friends to stand with you。〃 And with the words she took her by the hands and raised her to her feet； and looked at her with such a beaming； courageous smile that Dora caught its spirit； and promised to insist on her claims for rest and sleep。
〃When shall I come again； Dora？〃
〃Not till I send for you。 Mother will be in London next Wednesday at the Savoy。 I intend to leave here Wednesday some time； and may need you； will you come？〃
〃Surely； both Tyrrel and I。〃
Then the time being on a dangerous line they parted。 But Ethel could think of nothing and talk of nothing but the frightful change in her friend； and the unceasing misery which had produced it。 Tyrrel shared all her indignation。 The slow torture of any creature was an intolerable crime in his eyes； but when the brutality was exercised on a woman； and on a countrywoman； he was roused to the highest pitch of indignation。 When Wednesday arrived he did not leave the house； but waited with Ethel for the message they confidently expected。 It came about five o'clockurgent； imperative； entreating； 〃Come； for God's sake！ He will kill me。〃
The carriage was ready； and in half an hour they were at Mostyn Hall。 No one answered their summons； but as they stood listening and waiting； a shrill cry of pain and anger pierced the silence。 It was followed by loud voices and a confused noise noise of many talking and exclaiming。 Then Tyrrel no longer hesitated。 He opened the door easily； and taking Ethel on his arm； suddenly entered the parlor from which the clamor came。 Dora stood in the center of the room like an enraged pythoness； her eyes blazing with passion。
〃See！〃 she cried as Tyrrel entered the room〃see！〃 And she held out her arm； and pointed to her shoulder from which the lace hung in shreds； showing the white flesh； red and bruised； where Mostyn had gripped her。 Then Tyrrel turned to Mostyn； who was held tightly in the grasp of his gardener and coachman； and foaming with a rage that rendered his explanation almost inarticulate； especially as the three women servants gathered around their mistress added their railing and invectives to the general confusion。
〃The witch！ The cat…faced woman！〃 he screamed。 〃She wants to go to her mother！ Wants to play the trick she killed Basil Stanhope with！ She shall not！ She shall not！ I will kill her first！ She is mad！ I will send her to an asylum！ She is a little devil！ I will send her to hell！ Nothing is bad enough nothing〃
〃Mr。 Mostyn；〃 said Tyrrel。
〃Out of my house！ What are you doing here？ Away！ This is my house！ Out of it immediately！〃
〃This man is insane；〃 said Tyrrel to Dora。 〃Put on your hat and cloak； and come home with us。〃
〃I am waiting for Justice Manningham；〃 she answered with a calm subsidence of passion that angered Mostyn more than her reproaches。 〃I have sent for him。 He will be here in five minutes now。 That brute〃 pointing to Mostyn〃must be kept under guard till I reach my mother。 The magistrate will bring a couple of constables with him。〃
〃This is a plot； then！ You hear it！ You！ You； Tyrrel Rawdon； and you； Saint Ethel； are in it； all here on time。 A plot； I say！ Let me loose that I may strangle the cat…faced creature。 Look at her hands； they are already bloody！〃
At these words Dora began to sob passionately； the servants； one and all； to comfort her； or to abuse Mostyn； and in the height of the hubbub Justice Manningham entered with two constables behind him。
〃Take charge of Mr。 Mostyn；〃 he said to them； and as they laid their big hands on his shoulders the Justice added； 〃You will consider yourself under arrest； Mr。 Mostyn。〃
And when nothing else could cow Mostyn； he was cowed by the law。 He sank almost fainting into his chair； and the Justice listened to Dora's story； and looked indignantly at the brutal man； when she showed him her torn dress and bruised shoulder。 〃I entreat your Honor；〃 she said； 〃to permit me to go to my mother who is now in London。〃 And he answered kindly； 〃You shall go。 You are in a condition only a mother can help and comfort。 As soon as I have taken your deposition you shall go。〃
No one paid any attention to Mostyn's disclaimers and denials。 The Justice saw the state of affairs。 Squire Rawdon and Mrs。 Rawdon testified to Dora's ill…usage； the butler； the coachman； the stablemen； the cook； the housemaids were all eager to bear witness to the same； and Mrs。 Mostyn's appearance was too eloquent a plea for any humane man to deny her the mother…help she asked for。
Though neighbors and members of the same hunt and clubs； the Justice took no more friendly notice of Mostyn than he would have taken of any wife…beating cotton… weaver； and when all lawful preliminaries had been arranged； he told Mrs。 Mostyn that he should not take up Mr。 Mostyn's case till Friday； and in the interval she would have time to put herself under her mother's care。 She thanked him； weeping； and in her old； pretty way kissed his hands； and 〃vowed he had saved her life； and she would forever remember his goodness。〃 Mostyn mocked at her 〃play…acting；〃 and was sternly reproved by the Justice； and then Tyrrel and Ethel took charge of Mrs。 Mostyn until she was ready to leave for London。
She was more nearly ready than they ex… pected。 All her trunks were packed； and the butler promised to take them immediately to the railway station。 In a quarter of an hour she appeared in traveling costume； with her jewels in a bag； which she carried in her hand。 There was a train for London passing Monk… Rawdon at eight o'clock； and after Justice Manningham had left； the cook brought in some dinner； which Dora asked the Rawdons to share with her。 It was； perhaps； a necessary but a painful meal。 No one noticed Mostyn。 He was enforced to sit still and watch its progress； which he accompanied with curses it would be a kind of sacrilege to write down。 But no one answered him； and no one noticed the orders he gave for his own dinner； until Dora rose to leave forever the house of bondage。 Then she said to the cook：
〃See that those gentlemanly constables have something good to eat and to drink； and when they have been served you may give that man〃pointing to Mostyn〃the dinner of bread and water he has so often prescribed for me。 After my train leaves you are all free to go to your own homes。 Farewell； friends！〃
Then Mostyn raved again； and finally tried his old loving terms。 〃Come back to me； Dora；〃 he called frantically。 〃Come back； dearest； sweetest Dora； I will be your lover forever。 I will never say another cross word to you。〃
But Dora heard not and saw not。 She left the room without a glance at the man sitting cowering between the officers； and blubbering with shame and passion and the sense of total loss。 In a few minutes he heard the Rawdon carriage drive to the door。 Tyrrel and Ethel assisted Dora into it； and the party drove at once to the railway station。 They were just able to catch the London train。 The butler came up to report all the trunks safely forwarded； and Dora dropped gold into his hand； and bade him clear the house of servants as soon as the morning broke。 Fortunately there