“Mr Walton,” began Mrs Oldcastle, indignantly, “it is scarcely like a gentleman to come where you are not wanted—–­”

Here Judy interrupted her.

“I beg your pardon, grannie, Mr Walton was wanted—­very much wanted.  I went and fetched him.”

But Mrs Oldcastle went on unheeding.

“—–­and to be sitting in my room in the dark too!”

“That couldn’t be helped, grannie.  Here comes Sarah with candles.”

“Sarah,” said Mrs Oldcastle, “ask Captain Everard to be kind enough to step this way.”

“Yes, ma’am,” answered Sarah, with an untranslatable look at me as she set down the candles.

We could now see each other.  Knowing words to be but idle breath, I would not complicate matters by speech, but stood silent, regarding Mrs Oldcastle.  She on her part did not flinch, but returned my look with one both haughty and contemptuous.  In a few moments, Captain Everard entered, bowed slightly, and looked to Mrs Oldcastle as if for an explanation.  Whereupon she spoke, but to me.

“Mr Walton,” she said, “will you explain to Captain Everard to what we owe the unexpected pleasure of a visit from you?”

“Captain Everard has no claim to any explanation from me.  To you, Mrs Oldcastle, I would have answered, had you asked me, that I was waiting for Miss Oldcastle.”

“Pray inform Miss Oldcastle, Judy, that Mr Walton insists upon seeing her at once.”

“That is quite unnecessary.  Miss Oldcastle will be here presently,” I said.

Mrs Oldcastle turned slightly livid with wrath.  She was always white, as I have said:  the change I can describe only by the word I have used, indicating a bluish darkening of the whiteness.  She walked towards the door beside me.  I stepped between her and it.

“Pardon me, Mrs Oldcastle.  That is the way to Miss Oldcastle’s room.  I am here to protect her.”

Without saying a word she turned and looked at Captain Everard.  He advanced with a long stride of determination.  But ere he reached me, the door behind me opened, and Miss Oldcastle appeared in her bonnet and shawl, catrying a small bag in her hand.  Seeing how things were, the moment she entered, she put her hand on my arm, and stood fronting the enemy with me.  Judy was on my right, her eyes flashing, and her cheek as red as a peony, evidently prepared to do battle a toute outrance for her friends.

“Miss Oldcastle, go to your room instantly, I command you,” said her mother; and she approached as if to remove her hand from my arm.  I put my other arm between her and her daughter.

“No, Mrs Oldcastle,” I said.  “You have lost all a mother’s rights by ceasing to behave like a mother, Miss Oldcastle will never more do anything in obedience to your commands, whatever she may do in compliance with your wishes.”

“Allow me to remark,” said Captain Everard, with attempted nonchalance, “that that is strange doctrine for your cloth.”