Now not only are anger and stupidity near of kin, but when a man
whose mental movements are naturally deliberate, is suddenly
spurred, he is in great danger of acting like a fool, and Richard
did act like a fool. He strode up to the entrance of the porch, and
said,

'Do you not hear the lady, sir? She tells you to go.'

A voice as cool and self-possessed as the other was hasty and
perturbed, replied,

'I am much in the wrong, sir, if the lady do not turn the command
upon yourself. Until you have obeyed it, she may perhaps see reason
for withdrawing it in respect of me.'

Richard stepped into the porch, but Dorothy glided between them, and
gently pushed him out.

'Richard Heywood!' she said.

'Whew!' interjected the stranger, softly.

'You can claim no right,' she went on, 'to be here at this hour.
Pray go; you will disturb my mother.'

'Who is this man, then, whose right seems acknowledged?' asked
Richard, in ill-suppressed fury.

'When you address me like a gentleman, such as I used to believe