stop at the gate. And Tommie has come, too! The darling saw me at the
window!" cried the poor girl, her eyes sparkling with delight as a
perfect explosion of barking made itself heard over the tramp of horses'
feet and the crash of carriage wheels outside.

Miss Pink rose slowly, with a dignity that looked capable of adequately
receiving--not one noble lady only, but the whole peerage of England.

"Control yourself, dear Isabel," she said. "No well-bred young lady
permits herself to become unduly excited. Stand by my side--a little
behind me."

Isabel obeyed. Mr. Troy kept his place, and privately enjoyed his
triumph over Miss Pink. If Lady Lydiard had been actually in league with
him, she could not have chosen a more opportune time for her visit. A
momentary interval passed. The carriage drew up at the door; the horses
trampled on the gravel; the bell rung madly; the uproar of Tommie,
released from the carriage and clamoring to be let in, redoubled its
fury. Never before had such an unruly burst of noises invaded the
tranquility of Miss Pink's villa!




CHAPTER XI.

THE trim little maid-servant ran upstairs from her modest little
kitchen, trembling at the terrible prospect of having to open the door.
Miss Pink, deafened by the barking, had just time to say, "What a very
ill-behaved dog!" when a sound of small objects overthrown in the hall,