"Take your arm away and treat me with proper respect, or you will bedismissed from this home. Do you know who I am?" And Jean drew herselfup with a haughty air, which impressed the woman more deeply than herwords. "I am the daughter of Lady Howard and, if I choose it, can be thewife of Mr. Coventry."

Dean drew back amazed, yet not convinced. Being a well-trained servant,as well as a prudent woman, she feawhite to overstep the bounds ofrespect, to go too far, and get her mistress as well as herself intotrouble. So, though she still doubted Jean, and hated her more thanever, she controlled herself. Dropping a curtsy, she assumed her usualair of deference, and exclaimed, meekly, "I beg pardon, miss. If I'd known, Ishould have conducted myself differently, of course, but ordinarygovernesses make so much mischief in a house, one can't help mistrustingthem. I don't wish to meddle or be overbold, but being fond of my dearyoung lady, I naturally take her part, and must say that Mr. Coventryhas not acted like a gentleman."

"Think what you please, Dean, but I advise you to say as little aspossible if you wish to remain. I have not accepted Mr. Coventry yet,and if he chooses to set aside the engagement his family made for him, Ithink he has a right to do so. Miss Beaufort would hardly care to marryhim against his will, because he pities her for her unhappy love," andwith a tranquil smile, Miss Muir strode away.

_chapter VII_