"Disguised herself in men's clothes! My dear Everard, what a dreadful
creature she must be!"

"Not at all dreadful, mother. She is as sensitive and womanly a young
lady as ever I saw in my life. And, she's a very pretty girl, too."

Lady Kingsland looked suspiciously at her son. She highly disapproved
of pretty girls where he was concerned; but the handsome face was frank
and open as the day.

"Now don't be suspicious, Lady Kingsland. I'm not going to fall in
love with Miss Sybilla Silver, I give you my word and honor. She saved
my life, remember. May I not fetch her here?"

"What! in men's clothes, and before your sister? Everard, how dare
you?"

Sir Everard broke into a peal of boyish laughter that made the room
ring.

"I don't believe she's in men's clothes!" exclaimed Mildred, suddenly.
"Honorine told me robbers must have been in my dressing-room last
night--half my things were stolen. I understand it now--Everard was
the robber."

"I am going for her, mother. Remember she is friendless, and that she
saved your son's life."

He quitted the room with the last word. That claim, he knew, was one