"John," said Edith, quietly, "I'm sorry to trouble you, but you must
watch this man; and, driver, do you stand at the gate and keep it open."

At this John flung down his hat upon the road, tore off his coat and
tossed it after the hat, and, with a chuckle of something like
exultation, prepared to obey his mistress by putting himself in a
"scientific" attitude. He saw well enough that the porter was a
formidable foe, and his face was a diploma in itself that fully
testified to the skill and science of that foe; but John was plucky, and
in his prime, and very confident in his own powers. So John stood off
and prepared for the fray. On the other hand, the porter was by no means
at a loss. As John prepared he backed slowly toward the gate, glaring
like a wild beast at his assailant. But John was suddenly interrupted in
his movements by the driver.

"See here, young man," said the latter, who had sprung from the box at
Edith's order, "do you stand by the gate, an' I'll tickle that feller
with this whip, an' see how he likes it."

The driver was a stout, solid, muscular fellow, with broad shoulders and
bull-dog aspect. In his hand he flourished a heavy whip, and as he spoke
his eyes sought out some part of the porter's person at which he might
take aim. As he spoke the porter became aware of this second assailant,
and a dark and malignant frown lowered over his evil face. He slowly
drew from his breast a large clasp-knife which was as formidable as a
dagger, and opening this, he held it significantly before him.

But now a new turn was given to the progress of affairs. Had the porter
said nothing, Miss Plympton might have overcome her fears far enough to