As he spoke the door was opened by Mabel, who positively shook in her shoes when she saw her visitors.  “Don’t be frightened,” whispered Grace, taking her hand.  “We have come for you.”

“May I speak with Miss Brant?” asked Mr. Bright courteously, as they stepped into the narrow hall.

Before Mabel had time to answer, a tall, raw-boned woman, with a hard, forbidding face, shoved her aside and confronted them.  It was Miss Brant herself.

“Well, what do you want?” she said rudely.

“Good afternoon,” said Mr. Bright courteously.  “Am I speaking to Miss Brant?”

“I guess likely you are,” responded the woman, “and you better state your business now, for I’ve no time to fool away on strangers.”

“You have a young girl with you by the name of Mabel Allison, have you not?” asked Mr. Bright.

“Yes, I have.  What’s the matter with her?  Has she been gettin’ into mischief?  If she has, I’ll tan her hide,” said Miss Brant, with a threatening gesture.

“On the contrary,” replied Mr. Bright, “I hear very good reports of her.  Has she lived with you long?”

“That’s none of your business,” snapped Miss Brant.  “If you’ve come here to quiz me and pry around about her, you can get right out, for I’m not answering any fool questions.”

“I will not trouble you with further questions,” replied Mr. Bright, “but will proceed at once to business.  I have come to take Miss Mabel away with me.  She has found friends who are willing to help her until she finishes her education, and she wishes to go to them.”

“Oh, she does, does she?” sneered the woman mockingly.  “Well, you just take her, if you dare.”

“Have you legally adopted her?” asked Mr. Bright quietly.

“That’s none of your business, either.  You get out of my house or I’ll throw you out and these two snips of girls with you,” almost screamed Miss Brant.

“That will do,” said Mr. Bright sternly.  “We will go, but we shall take Miss Mabel with us.  I am a lawyer, Miss Brant, and I have positive proof that this child is not bound to you in any way.  You took her from the orphanage on trial, exactly as you might hire a servant.  You did not even take the trouble to have yourself appointed her guardian.  You agreed to pay her for her work, but blows and harsh words are the only payment she has ever received at your hands.  She wishes to leave you because she can no longer endure life with you.  You haven’t the slightest claim upon her, and she is perfectly free to do as she chooses.  She is not of age yet, but as you are not her guardian, you had no right to take money that she has earned from her, and she can call you to account for it if she chooses.  However, you have imposed upon her for the last time, for she shall not spend another hour under your roof.”

“You touch her if you dare.  She shan’t leave this house,” said the woman in a furious tone.