"Do not interfere in affairs that do not concern you," replied Sir George, sullenly.
"But this does concern me greatly," said Aunt Dorothy, "and if you send Doll to the dungeon, Madge and I will leave your house and will proclaim your act to all England."
"The girl has disobeyed me and has lied to me, and—"
"I care not what she has done, I shall leave your house and disown you for my brother if you perpetrate this outrage upon my niece. She is dear to me as if she were my own child. Have I not brought her up since babyhood? If you carry out this order, brother, I will leave Haddon Hall forever."
"And I'll go with her," cried old Bess, who stood at the door of the screens.
"And I, too," said Dawson, who was one of the men who had entered with Sir George.
"And I," cried the other man, throwing the manacles to the floor, "I will leave your service."
Sir George took up the manacles and moved toward Dorothy.
"You may all go, every cursed one of you. I rule my own house, and I will have no rebels in it. When I have finished with this perverse wench, I'll not wait for you to go. I'll drive you all out and you may go to—"
He was approaching Dorothy, but I stepped in front of him.