He's on the path! He's
coming here. Don't be frightened, mater. I'll deal with him." And he
boldly went up the steps leading into the alcove to meet the
marauder. Ethel half rose from the chair and whispered: "Mr. Brent!"
Peg pressed her back into the chair and turned toward the windows.
On came the footsteps nearer and nearer until they were heard to be
mounting the steps from the garden into the alcove.
Alaric pushed his electric light full into the visitors face, and
fell back.
"Good Lord! Jerry!" he ejaculated, completely astonished. "I say, ye
know," he went on, "what is happening in this house to-night?"
Jerry came straight down to Mrs. Chichester.
"I saw your lights go up and I came here on the run. I guessed
something like this had happened. Don't be hard on your niece, Mrs.
Chichester. The whole thing was entirely my fault. I asked her to
go."
Mrs. Chichester looked at him stonily.
"You took my niece to a dance in spite of my absolute refusal to
allow her to go?"
"He had nothin' to do with it;" said Peg, "I took him to that
dance." She wasn't going to allow Jerry to be abused without lodging
a protest. After all it was her fault. She made him take her. Very,
well--she would take the blame. Mrs.
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