"And do you think I'm so weak and silly as to believe all this?" she cried. "I d'know," he said, quietly. "I think you will. Clever girl like you can tell when a fellow's speaking the truth." "Go away at once, before my brother comes." "Shan't I wouldn't go now for a hundred brothers." "Oh," panted Jenny. "Can't you see that you will get me in fresh trouble with him, and make me more miserable still?" "I don't want to," he said, softly, "and I'd go directly if I thought it would do that, but I wouldn't go because of being afraid. I say, ain't you precious hard on a fellow? I know I've been a brute, but I think I've got some good stuff in me, and if I could make you care for me I shouldn't turn out a bad fellow." "I will not listen to you. Go away." "I say, you know," he continued, as he stood still in the doorway, "why won't you listen to me and be soft and nice, same as you were at first?" "Silence, sir; don't talk about it. It was all a mistake." "No, it wasn't. You began to fish for me, and you caught me. I've got the hook in me tight, and I couldn't get away if I tried. I say, Jenny, please listen to me. I am in earnest, and I'll try so hard to be all that is square and right. 'Pon my soul I will." "Where is your cousin?" "I don't know--and don't want to," he added. "Yes you do, you took her away." "Well, it's no use to swear to a thing with a girl; if you won't believe me when I say I don't know, you won't believe me with an oath. What do I want with her? She hated me, and I hated her. There is only one nice girl in the world, and that's you." "Pah!" cried Jenny, who was more flushed than ever. "Look at me." "Well, I am looking at you," he said, smiling, "and it does a fellow good." "Can't you see that I've grown thin, and yellow, and ugly?" "No; and I'll punch any fellow's head who says you are." "Don't you know that I injured my ankle, and that I'm going to walk with crutches?" "Eh?" he cried, starting. "I say, it ain't so bad as that, is it?" "Yes; I can't put my foot to the ground." "Phew!" he whistled, with a look of pity and dismay in his countenance; "poor little foot." "I tell you I shall be a miserable cripple, I'm sure; but I'm going away, and you'll never see me again." "Oh, won't I?" he said, smiling. "You just go away, and I'll follow you like a shadow. You won't get away from me." "But don't I tell you I shall be a miserable cripple?" "Well," he said, thoughtfully; "it is a bad job, and perhaps it'll get better. If it don't I can carry you anywhere; I'm as strong as a horse. Look here, it's no use to deny it, you made me love you, and you must have me now--I mean some day." "Never!" cried Jenny, fiercely. "Ah, that's a long time to wait; but I'll wait. Look here, little one," he cried, passionate in his earnestness now, "I love you, and I'm sorry for all that's gone by; but I'm getting squarer every day."