“You may all go, every cursed one of you.  I rule my own house, and I will have no rebels in it.  When I have finished with this perverse wench, I’ll not wait for you to go.  I’ll drive you all out and you may go to—­”

He was approaching Dorothy, but I stepped in front of him.

“This must not be, Sir George,” said I, sternly.  “I shall not leave Haddon Hall, and I fear you not.  I shall remain here to protect your daughter and you from your own violence.  You cannot put me out of Haddon Hall; I will not go.”

“Why cannot I put you out of Haddon Hail?” retorted Sir George, whose rage by that time was frightful to behold.

“Because, sir, I am a better man and a better swordsman than you are, and because you have not on all your estates a servant nor a retainer who will not join me against you when I tell them the cause I champion.”

Dawson and his fellow stepped to my side significantly, and Sir George raised the iron manacles as if intending to strike me.  I did not move.  At the same moment Madge entered the room.

“Where is my uncle?” she asked.

Old Bess led her to Sir George.  She spoke not a word, but placed her arms gently about his neck and drew his face down to hers.  Then she kissed him softly upon the lips and said:—­

“My uncle has never in all his life spoken in aught but kindness to me, and now I beg him to be kind to Dorothy.”

The heavy manacles fell clanking to the floor.  Sir George placed his hand caressingly upon Madge’s head and turned from Dorothy.

[Illustration]

Lady Crawford then approached her brother and put her hand upon his arm, saying:—­

“Come with me, George, that I may speak to you in private.”

She moved toward the door by which she had entered, and Madge quietly took her uncle’s hand and led him after Lady Crawford.  Within five minutes Sir George, Aunt Dorothy, and Madge returned to the room.

“Dorothy?” said Madge in a low voice.

“Here I am, Madge,” murmured Dorothy, who was sitting on the bench by the blazoned window.  Madge walked gropingly over to her cousin and sat by her side, taking her hand.  Then Lady Crawford spoke to Dorothy:—­

“Your father wishes me to say that you must go to your apartments in Entrance Tower, and that you shall not leave them without his consent.  He also insists that I say to you if you make resistance or objection to this decree, or if you attempt to escape, he will cause you to be manacled and confined in the dungeon, and that no persuasion upon our part will lead him from his purpose.”

“Which shall it be?” asked Sir George, directing his question to Lady Crawford.

Dorothy lifted her eyebrows, bit the corner of her lip, shrugged her shoulders, and said:—­

“Indeed, it makes no difference to me where you send me, father; I am willing to do whatever will give you the greatest happiness.  If you consult my wishes, you will have me whipped in the courtyard till I bleed.  I should enjoy that more than anything else you can do.  Ah, how tender is the love of a father!  It passeth understanding.”