She took the lodgings opposite him, but observed nothing till this very morning, when she saw him throw off his dressing-gown all in a hurry and fling on his coat.  She tied on her bonnet as rapidly, and followed him, until she discovered the object of his pursuit.  It was a surprise to her, and a puzzle, to see another man step in, as if to take her part.  But as Reginald still followed the loitering pair, she followed Reginald, till he turned and found her at his heels, white and lowering.

She confronted him in threatening silence for some time, during which he prepared his defence.

“So it is a lady this time,” said she, in her low, rich voice, sternly.

“Is it?”

“Yes, and I should say she is bespoke—­that tall, fine-built gentleman.  But I suppose you care no more for his feelings than you do for mine.”

“Phoebe,” said the egotist, “I will not try to deceive you.  You have often said you are my true friend.”

“And I think I have proved it.”

“That you have.  Well, then, be my true friend now.  I am in love—­really in love—­this time.  You and I only torment each other; let us part friends.  There are plenty of farmers in Essex that would jump at you.  As for me, I’ll tell you the truth; I have run through every farthing; my estate mortgaged beyond its value—­two or three writs out against me—­that is why I slipped down here.  My only chance is to marry Money.  Her father knows I have land, and he knows nothing about the mortgages; she is his only daughter.  Don’t stand in my way, that is a good girl; be my friend, as you always were.  Hang it all, Phoebe, can’t you say a word to a fellow that is driven into a corner, instead of glaring at me like that?  There!  I know it is ungrateful; but what can a fellow do?  I must live like a gentleman or else take a dose of prussic acid; you don’t want to drive me to that.  Why, you proposed to part, last time, yourself.”

She gave him one majestic, indescribable look, that made even his callous heart quiver, and turned away.

Then the scamp admired her for despising him, and could not bear to lose her.  He followed her, and put forth all those powers of persuading and soothing, which had so often proved irresistible.  But this time it was in vain.  The insult was too savage, and his egotism too brutal, for honeyed phrases to blind her.

After enduring it a long time with a silent shudder, she turned and shook him fiercely off her like some poisonous reptile.

“Do you want me to kill you?  I’d liever kill myself for loving such a thing as thou.  Go thy ways, man, and let me go mine.”  In her passion she dropped her cultivation for once, and went back to the thou and thee of her grandam.

He colored up and looked spiteful enough; but he soon recovered his cynical egotism, and went off whistling an operatic passage.

She crept to her lodgings, and buried her face in her pillow, and rocked herself to and fro for hours in the bitterest agony the heart can feel, groaning over her great affection wasted, flung into the dirt.