Just as Miss Mohun had gone up to get ready, Mysie ran in to say that Cousin Rotherwood would be at the door in a moment to take Fergus down.

‘Lady Rotherwood can’t bear his going,’ said Mysie, ’and Mr. White and Mr. Stebbing say that he need not; but he is quite determined, though he has got his arm in a sling, for he says it was all his fault for going where he ought not.  And he won’t have the carriage, for he says it would shake his bones ever so much more than Shank’s mare.’

‘Just like him,’ said Aunt Jane.  ‘Has Dr. Dagger given him leave?’

’Yes; he said it wouldn’t hurt him; but Lady Rotherwood told Miss Elbury she was sure he persuaded him.’

Mysie’s confused pronouns were cut short by Lord Rotherwood’s own appearance.

‘You need not go, Jane,’ he said.  ’I can take care of this little chap.  They’ll not chop off his head in the presence of one of the Legislature.’

‘Nice care to begin by chaffing him out of his wits,’ she retorted.  ‘The question is, whether you ought to go.’

’Yes, Jenny, I must go.  It can’t damage me; and besides, to tell the truth, it strikes me that things will go hard with that unlucky young fellow if some one is not there to stand up for him and elicit Fergus’s evidence.’

‘Alexis White!’

’White—–­ay, a cousin or something of the exemplary boss.  He’s been dining with his partners—–­the old White, I mean—–­and they’ve been cramming him—–­I imagine with a view to scapegoat treatment—–­jealousy, and all the rest of it.  If there is not a dismissal, there’s a hovering on the verge.’

‘Exactly what I was afraid of,’ said Jane.  ’Oh, Rotherwood, I could tell you volumes.  But may I not come down with you?  Could not I do something?’

’Well, on the whole, you are better away, Jenny.  Consider William’s feelings.  Womankind, even Brownies, are better out of it.  Prejudice against proteges, whether of petticoats or cassocks—–­begging your pardon.  I can fight battles better as an unsophisticated stranger coming down fresh, though I don’t expect any one from the barony of Beechcroft to believe it, and maybe the less I know of your volumes the better till after—–­

’Oh, Rotherwood, as if I wasn’t too thankful to have you to send for me!’

’There!  I’ve kept the firm out there waiting an unconscionable time.  They’ll think you are poisoning my mind.  Come along, you imp of science.  Trust me, I’ll not bully him, though it’s highly tempting to make the chien chasser de race.’

‘Oh, Aunt Jane, won’t you go?’ exclaimed Gillian in despair, as her cousin waved a farewell at the gate.

’No, my dear; it is not for want of wishing, but he is quite right.  He can do much better than I could.’

‘But is he in earnest, aunt?’

’Oh yes, most entirely, and I quite see that he is right—–­indeed I do, Gillian.  People pretend to defer to a lady, but they really don’t like her poking her nose in, and, after all, I could have no right to say anything.  My only excuse for going was to take care of Fergus.’