“Yes, a deal more,” he returned. “I want to fix you firm and fast before I leave――I want you to give me a promise.” “What be that you want me to promise?” “Not to have anything to say to any other chap when I am gone. You must consider yourself engaged to me.” She made no reply, but looked thoughtfully on the ground on which they were walking. Do you hear――do you understand?” he inquired. “Yes, I think I understand.” “And you answer――” “I aint a goin’ to mek any promise.” “What!――you refuse, then――and why? Tell me why? Why don’t you answer? Do you want to drive me to madness, you cruel thoughtless girl?” “I aint a goin’ to mek any promise, I dunno what other answer to mek.” “I’ll take you up to London and you shall see all the fine sights, and be a fine lady,” he said in a wheedling tone. “Come, Nell, say you will be mine.” “I won’t say nuffin’ o’ the sort, not at present.” “Why not?” “I don’t know enough of you,” she answered with the greatest simplicity; “that’s one reason.” “And the other?” She made no answer. “The other!” he shouted in a voice of thunder. “There is someone else in the case――is that it?” “I won’t answer you.” “Then you have been making a fool of me all this time,” he cried, in a voice of concentrated passion. “You treacherous infamous girl; but I’ll let you know, my lady, that Charles Peace is not to be trampled upon with impunity――understand that.” He caught her by the wrist and held it with the grip of a vice. “Let me go――ye hurt me――let me go!” she exclaimed in some alarm. “Not till you give me the name of my rival. Until you do that I will not release you.” He dragged her forcibly along the pathway, and displayed such an excess of fury that the girl was seriously alarmed. “I must ha’ bin a born fool to ha’ come here, and I be rightly served. Let me go!” “Answer my question first――his name――tell me the fellow’s name and I’ll then release you――not before. You’ve played me false, and you know it.” He had by this time become more like a maniac than a rational being. Nell struggled desperately to release herself from his grasp, but although a strong-built muscular young woman she found herself almost powerless in the grip of her persecutor. “Have I wasted all my thoughts all this time over one who is so base and worthless?” he ejaculated with supreme bitterness. “Am I to become the laughing stock of the whole neighbourhood?” “I wish I’d never seen you. I hate you!” cried Nelly, in a spiteful tone. “What have I done to be treated thus?” “One word and we are friends for life. Say you will be mine,” said he. “I will say nothing till you let me go.” “I’ll have your answer one way or the other,” shouted out Peace, drawing a revolver from his pocket. “By the heavens above, I will make you answer me.” At the sight of the weapon the miserable young woman uttered several piercing screams.