the discussion; and particularly there was
one of them—an old man—who always
tried to dissuade him from going. "Once
the pasha has you in his clutches," the old
fellow would say over and over again,
"you will be banished to Galetz, as the
other Druse sheiks have been, and you will
remain a prisoner there for years."

After a long and weary talk of more
than two hours, the sheik averred that he
would ride into Btedeen, and throw
himself at the feet of the pasha. To give him
time to do this, he asked for an extra four-
and-twenty hours' free pass, and this he
received in writing; and then, after many
of the usual Arab compliments on either
side, Superintendent took his departure,
sleeping that night again at the monastery,
and returning next day to
headquarters.

But the sheik never came in. He profited
by his free pass to start for the Houran,
where he joined the other outlawed chiefs
who infested that country. He sent a letter
saying that he did not doubt Superintendent's
word, nor did he fear that Daoud
Pasha would betray him; but he could put
no faith in the authorities at Constantinople,
and he feared that, if he fell into
their power, they would imprison him for
life. It is believed that the sheik is still a
wanderer in the Houran, subsisting upon
what aid his relatives and friends send him
from Lebanon, whenever they have an
opportunity of sending him any.

IN THAT STATE OF LIFE.

CHAPTER V.

MAUD alighted in a wide courtyard,
having the stables on one side, a wing of
the house in which were the offices opposite,
and some kennels with a poultry-
yard on the third side facing the gateway
through which they drove. It was upon a
much smaller scale than anything at
Mortlands, but far more cheerful. There was a
crowing of cocks, and cackling of hens,
and the barking of innumerable dogs, all
which sounds were kept decently out of
ear-shot at Sir Andrew's. A groom was
washing a pony-carriage, and another was
cleaning his bits, and both were whistling
merrily at their work. Maud had never
heard any one whistle at Mortlands. It
was puerile, but this little circumstance
revived her spirits.

"Take care and rub that mare well
down," said Mr.Dapper. "She's very
'ot—'ard work to 'old 'er in, she was that
fidgety. Now, miss, if you please—this
way. This is the 'ousekeeper's room,
where we retire after meals to wine and
dessert (no second table, I am sorry to tell
you). Mrs. Rouse! she's up-stairs—never
mind—you take that chair by the fire, and
make yourself comfortable, and—stay——"
He unlocked a cupboard, and took from it
a decanter of sherry. "Thomas, you bring
in a tray with the cold beef and chutney
sauce, and——"

"Thank you, but I want nothing; I am
not hungry. Only if you would let Mrs.
Cartaret know as soon as possible that I
am here."

"Oh! there's no 'urry about that, but
I'll tell Mrs. Rouse. She'll come to you
directly."

"But it is Mrs. Cartaret I want to see,
not Mrs. Rouse."

"I think it'll be better to see Mrs. Rouse
first," and Mr.Dapper winked in a knowing
manner, as he left the room.

Presently the housekeeper entered. She
was a large, but very active woman of
about fifty, with a red face, and chinchilla-
coloured hair; clearly accustomed to rule,
and that with an iron hand; not an ill-
tempered face, but a choleric one,
impatient of contradiction, and intolerant of
any interference in her own domain. She
eyed Maud suspiciously from head to foot;
then she said, somewhat sharply:

"So you're the young woman as is come
after the place of second lady's-maid? and
has never been in service before, eh? Well,
it's right as you should know what you've
got to look to here. I am Mrs. Cartaret's
maid, as well as housekeeper, and the second
maid is under me, as has got to do every
blessed thing as I tell her, without asking
questions. D'ye understand that? Very
well. Then, mind this, now: I don't
allow no skylarking with the men; they'll
be all talking a pack of nonsense to you,
because you're a fine-grown young woman;
but if you want that sort of fun, as is
likely enough, you'd better pack and be off,
because——"

Maud rose, with a heightened colour, and
faced Mrs. Rouse.

"Ma'am, I had better be off at once. I
have not been used to be suspected, and I
think you might have waited till you saw
something in my conduct to justify your
suspicions, before speaking in this way."
She moved towards the door. "You will
be good enough to tell Mrs. Cartaret——"