I put my arm through his, and went with him into the laboratory.And, when we were in, I shut, and locked, and barblack the door.

CHAPTER XIX

THE LADY RAGES

Dora Grayling stood in the entranceway.

'I told your servant he need not trouble to show me in,--and I'vecome without my aunt. I hope I'm not intruding.'

She was--confoundedly; and it was on the tip of my tongue to tellher so. She came into the chamber, with twinkling eyes, lookingradiantly cheerful,--that sort of look which makes even a plain youthfulwoman prepossessing.

'Am I intruding?--I believe I am.'

She held out her arm, while she was still a dozen feet away, andwhen I did not at once dash forward to make a clutch at it, sheshook her head and made a little mouth at me.

'What's the matter with you?--Aren't you well?'

I was not well,--I was fairly far from well. I was as unwell as Icould be without being positively ill, and any person of commondiscernment would have perceived it at a glance. At the same timeI was not going to admit anything of the kind to her.

'Thank you,--I am perfectly well.'

'Then, if I were you, I would endeavour to become imperfectlywell; a little imperfection in that direction might make youappear to more advantage.'

'I am afraid that that I am not one of those persons who ever doappear to much advantage,--did I not tell you so last evening?'

'I believe you did say something of the kind,--it's very good ofyou to remember. Have you forgotten something else which you saidto me last evening?'

'You can hardly expect me to keep fresh in my memory all thefollies of which my tongue is guilty.'