"This is a public concert," he said, coolly,
"is it not? I have given my seven and
sixpence to Miss Bellman. Bring ruin on you!
no, not for worlds, Ada; not for my own life.
Bring ruin on you—who shall do that? Who
shall cause you a moment's trouble of mind?
Tell me, and if any one dares——"

She grew alarmed, and looked round eagerly.

The concert was now ending. It was raining,
and the audience, at last released, hurried away.
Ross came out with Mrs. Tillotson, still pouring
his incoherent words into her ear. She was
only thinking of how she could most speedily
get to her carriage.

"Take my arm," said Ross, " d'ye hear?
I'll see you to your carriage. What, are you
afraid? I don't care who sees us. Come!"

They were nearly alone, as the company had
all but gone. Suddenly a hand was laid on
Ross's arm, and Mr. Tillotson's worn and weary
face, with eyes that gleamed with a slow fire,
was between them. He did not speak to
Ross.

"You will come with me," he said to her;
and with some roughness, at least with quickness,
he drew her away.

His arm trembled. Ross's cheeks blazed up
with fury.

"All this is the ruin and misery which you
spoke of. This is our tyrant, it seems. For
shame to treat—a lady—a girl—in that way!
You set up to give lessons in chivalry and
amiability."

"I don't wish to speak to you," said Mr.
Tillotson, white as a sheet. "Do not come in
my way, I warn you. Come!" he said, almost
fiercely, to Mrs. Tillotson.

"Yes, let us go," she said, hurriedly.

"This is brutal," said Ross, stepping in front
of them. "How dare you treat that gentle
creature this way? I have a mind to give
you a lesson here on this very spot. So this
is your new game—tyranny over a helpless
girl, who is now victimised to you for her
life." Ross was working himself into a fury.
"I tell you, let me once hear that you dare say
a rude word to her, or give her a moment's
trouble or discomfort, or attempt to play the
tyrant, by (an oath) half an hour after, I'll come to
the house and make you answer it!"

Mr. Tillotson's answer was a look of deep,
hopeless reproach to his wife.

"This from you!" he said. Then turned to
Ross. "This is too great an outrage. I have
borne too much from you. But I give you one
warning; if you attempt to interfere, by word or
look, with me or any one belonging to me, if
you dare to come near my house, or to address
a single word to her or to me again, as sure as
I live you shall repent it—just as I made you
repent it one night down at St. Alans!"

Mrs. Tillotson wrung her hands bitterly.
"O, how is all this to end?" she cried.

Ross could not answer for a moment. He
was half stupefied. "Ah, you threaten me with
that!" he cried. "Don't think it for a moment.
I am your master; I have but to lift up my
finger and I can make you tremble, and your
miserable soul quake within you! I tell you
again, I watch over her, and shall watch over
and protect her against your tyranny. Listen,
one whisper. Come here." And he drew Mr.
Tillotson over to the wall. He put his hand
up to cover his own mouth and whispered,
then drew back with a smile of triumph. Mr.
Tillotson shrunk from him with a start of
terror; his pale face had become yet more ashy
pale.

"Shall I?" repeated Ross, with a tone of
triumph. "Shall I now? Now mind, you have
had warning. Let me hear but of a single word
to her, a look, a gesture, and I shan't spare you.
Ah, ah, my friend Tillotson, that was an indiscreet
allusion of yours to that St. Alans night.
So mind, you have had fair warning. And, Ada,
now you have a protector at last."

Neither husband nor wife, both crushed and
overpowered, could say a word. The miserable
Tillotson stood there against the wall.

The keeper of the rooms came now to warn
them that it was time to "shut up." Ross was
gone, and Mr. and Mrs.Tillotson went out
mechanically to their carriage. He put her in. With
a sudden impulse Ada, looking at his hopeless
face, said almost despairingly, "Don't mind
this, don't think of it; I do not mind him in
the least, or his threats. I will explain all to
you now. Come!"

But he shook his head, and with compressed
lips said:

"No. It is all over now." Then shut the
door and turned away.

Now ready,
THE FIFTEENTH VOLUME,
Price 5s. 6d., bound in cloth.
** The back numbers of All the Year Round, in single
copies, monthly parts, and half-yearly volumes, can
always be had of every bookseller, and at every book-
stall.

Now ready, in Three Volumes,
THE SECOND MRS. TILLOTSON.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "NEVER FORGOTTEN."
Tinsley Brothers, 18, Catherine-street, London.

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