She walked toward the door, leading Hero, who rubbed his head caressingly against her.

“Where are you going?” cried Mr. Roscoe following, and catching her arm.

“Anywhere—­away from this house,” she answered very quietly.

“But Mr. Palma is your guardian!  He will be dreadfully displeased.”

“He has no right to be displeased with me.  Beside, I would not for forty guardians give up my Hero.  Please stand aside, and let me pass.”

“Tell me first, what you intend to do.”

“First to get out, where the air is free.  Then to find the house of a lady, to whom I have a letter of introduction from Mrs. Lindsay.”

Mrs. Palma was sorely perplexed, and though she trembled with excess of anger and chagrin, a politic regard for her own future welfare, which was contingent upon the maintenance of peaceful relations with her stepson, impelled her to concede what otherwise she would never have yielded.  Stepping forward she said with undisguised scorn: 

“If this is a sample of his ward’s temper, I fear Erle has resumed guardianship of Tartary.  As Miss Orme is a total stranger in New York, it is sheer madness to talk of leaving here.  This is Erle Palma’s house, not mine, else I should not hesitate a moment; but under the circumstances I shall insist upon this girl remaining here at least until his return, which must be very soon.  Then the dog question will be speedily decided by the master of the establishment.”

“Let us try and compromise.  Suppose you trust your pet to me for a few days, until matters can be settled?  I like dogs, and promise to take good care of yours, and feed him on game and chicken soup.”

He attempted to put his hand on the collar, but Hero, who seemed to comprehend that he was a casus belli, growled and showed his teeth.

“Thank you, sir, but we have only each other now.  Mrs. Palma, I do not wish to disturb or annoy you in any way, and as I love my dog very much, and you have no room for him, I would much rather go away now and leave you in peace.  Please, Mr. Roscoe, let me pass.”

“I can fix things to suit all around, if madam will permit,” said the coachman.

“Well, Farley, what is your proposition?”

His mistress was biting her lip from mortification and ill-concealed rage.

“I will make a kennel in the corner of the carriage-house, where he can be chained up, and yet have room to stretch himself; and the young miss can feed him, and see him as often as she likes, till matters are better settled.”

“Very well.  Attend to it at once.  I hope Miss Orme is satisfied?”

“No, I do not wish to give so much trouble to you all.”

“Oh, miss I it is no trouble worth speaking of; and if you will only trust me, I will see that no harm happens to him.”

For a moment Regina looked up at the honest, open, though somewhat harsh Hibernian face, then advanced and laid the chain in his hand.