my daughter on the other side of them.
Come, Mr. Leader, didn't you tell me you
were no ornamental figure- head in this
house—you're not going to take orders
from any one in your establishment?"

"Of course not; and there is no need of
putting things in that way."

"Oh, but there is, my dear sir! The
time is come for me to call a spade a
spade. Things had best be put on a good
footing; and I call on you, sir, to vindicate
my position, or I must vindicate it
myself."

"I'm sure there's some mistake," said
Mr. Leader; " she couldn't think of such a
thing."

"That there is; so let us go back,"
said the Doctor, promptly, "to the house,
and you shall clear it up. No man better."

And taking the unhappy Mr. Leader by
the arm, he marched him hurriedly
towards the hall-door of the Fort.

Within her castle the true commander
of the garrison was taking thought of her
future plans. She saw many difficulties
in the way, and, above all, there were
soldiers of the enemy within the fortress.
Yet, though Mary Leader, cold, and much
changed, and dangerous, had done her
cause serious mischief, and her
step-daughter wore a vigilant air that
be-tokened danger for the future, Mrs.
Leader bore no hostility to her compared
with what she felt towards Katey Leader,
as we may now fairly call her. The very
sound of that name, the very sense of her
presence in the house—that entry enforced
in spite of her—used to rack and tear her
soul.

"You have established yourself here,"
she said; " but, you must understand it,
entirely against my wishes. Not but that
if I had chosen to insist on the matter, you
must have left the house. I hope you
understand this clearly."

Katey, proud, yet tearful and submissive,
stands before her: " I only wish,
madam, to watch over my husband—to
nurse him."

"Yes; that is the disgraceful part of the
transaction—the husband you and your
people entrapped into your house! One
of your father's disreputable tricks."

"Nothing against my father, madam,"
said Katey, with trembling voice, and
raising her head; " whatever you please
against me."

"You shall not impose any conditions
in our house, if you please," said the other,
with a grim smile. " If you do not like the
conversation, you can withdraw."

"If my father were here, he would make
his name respected. I shall try and do so
in his absence."

"Name respected, indeed! Fine name,
fine respect! Only wait, and we shall find
how creditable his life was: there are
people on the look-out already."

Katey coloured. " These slanders have
been uttered before now against him; but
they have done him no harm. They never
shall, please goodness!"

"Ah, you shall see! And let me warn
you—don't interfere with what goes on in
this house, or with Mr. Leader's daughter
and our plans for her. Recollect you are
here as an intruder and on sufferance."

The two ladies were standing up in the
drawing-room opposite each other. Some
one entering caught up the words, " My
Katey an intruder and on sufferance! Oh
no! surely not. Mr. Leader, I ask you
plainly, is Katey here on sufferance, or an
intruder?"

That little man now appeared: " Oh,
dear, no! I never said so."

"This man here again! Oh! this is too
much," said Mrs. Leader, all but stamping
on the ground. " How dare you intrude
yourself here again after my letter?"

The Doctor placidly turned and pointed
to Mr. Leader.

"Yes," said the lady bitterly. " You can
bully him. That is a proper person to be
the head of a house, who cannot
protect his wife in her own house, or save her
from the intrusion of adventurers!
Whoever heard of such a thing—that a fellow
like this shall come and go as he likes, and
insult me as he pleases, by his presence?
He can make you afraid of him."

"Afraid," said Mr. Leader, excitedly;
"oh, not at all. And as for bullying, you
shouldn't talk that way. At the same time,
Doctor Findlater, I wish you would not be
coming. You see what confusion it brings
about, such worry and annoyance; so I
must beg you won't come again."

Mrs. Leader waited without a word.

"Yes," said Mr. Leader, getting courage,
"that is—after this visit. It's no use, you
know; Mrs. Leader's wishes must be
consulted."

"Well," said the Doctor, looking at
him from head to foot, " this is a piteous
spectacle! Where's the bold language we
heard yesterday, and on the gravel-walk five
minutes ago? My dear sir, you won't let
yourself be put down low in the orchestra