"The house of everyone is to him as his castle and fortress, as well
for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose."



"She's upstairs still," cries he in a frenzied tone. "She says she
has come _for ever._ That she will not go away. She doesn't
understand. Great Heaven! what am I to do?"

"She?" says Hardinge, who really in turn grows petrified for the
moment--_only _for the moment.

"That girl! My ward! All women are _demons!"_ says the professor
bitterly, with tragic force. He pauses as if exhausted.

_"Your_ demon is a pretty specimen of her kind," says Hardinge, a
little frivolously under the circumstances it must be confessed.
"Where is she now?"

"Upstairs!" with a groan. "She says she's _hungry,_ and I haven't a
thing in the house! For goodness sake think of something, Hardinge."

"Mrs. Mulcahy!" suggests Hardinge, in anything but a hopeful tone.

"Yes--ye-es," says the professor. "You--_you _wouldn't ask her
something, would you, Hardinge?"

"Not for a good deal," says Hardinge, promptly. "I say," rising, and