And away she went.  Dudley whistled a tune, and swung his foot like a pendulum, as he followed her with his side-glance.

‘I say, it is a hard case, Miss, a lad o’ spirit should be kept so tight.  I haven’t a shilling but what comes through his fingers; an’ drat the tizzy he’ll gi’ me till he knows the reason why.’

‘Perhaps,’ I said, ‘my uncle thinks you should earn some for yourself.’

’I’d like to know how a fella’s to earn money now-a-days.  You wouldn’t have a gentleman to keep a shop, I fancy.  But I’ll ha’ a fistful jist now, and no thanks to he.  Them executors, you know, owes me a deal o’ money.  Very honest chaps, of course; but they’re cursed slow about paying, I know.’

I made no remark upon this elegant allusion to the executors of my dear father’s will.

‘An’ I tell ye, Maud, when I git the tin, I know who I’ll buy a farin’ for.  I do, lass.’

The odious creature drawled this with a sidelong leer, which, I suppose, he fancied quite irresistible.

I am one of those unfortunate persons who always blushed when I most wished to look indifferent; and now, to my inexpressible chagrin, with its accustomed perversity, I felt the blush mount to my cheeks, and glow even on my forehead.

I saw that he perceived this most disconcerting indication of a sentiment the very idea of which was so detestable, that, equally enraged with myself and with him, I did not know how to exhibit my contempt and indignation.

Mistaking the cause of my discomposure, Mr. Dudley Ruthyn laughed softly, with an insufferable suavity.

’And there’s some’at, lass, I must have in return.  Honour thy father, you know; you would not ha’ me disobey the Governor?  No, you wouldn’t—­would ye?’

I darted at him a look which I hoped would have quelled his impertinence; but I blushed most provokingly—­more violently than ever.

‘I’d back them eyes again’ the county, I would,’ he exclaimed, with a condescending enthusiasm.  ’You’re awful pretty, you are, Maud.  I don’t know what came over me t’other night when Governor told me to buss ye; but dang it, ye shan’t deny me now, and I’ll have a kiss, lass, in spite o’ thy blushes.’

He jumped from his elevated seat on the sideboard, and came swaggering toward me, with an odious grin, and his arms extended.  I started to my feet, absolutely transported with fury.

‘Drat me, if she baint a-going to fight me!’ he chuckled humorously.

’Come, Maud, you would not be ill-natured, sure?  Arter all, it’s only our duty.  Governor bid us kiss, didn’t he?’

‘Don’t—­don’t, sir.  Stand back, or I’ll call the servants.’

And as it was I began to scream for Milly.

‘There’s how it is wi’ all they cattle!  You never knows your own mind—­ye don’t,’ he said, surlily.  ‘You make such a row about a bit o’ play.  Drop it, will you?  There’s no one a-harming you—­is there? I’m not, for sartain.’