"Do you dare to tell me that you did not go up to London?" "No, I don't, because I did." "With her, in a most disgraceful, clandestine manner?" "No; I went alone with a very jolly good-tempered chap, whom everybody bullies and calls a liar." "A nice companion; and pray, who was that?" "This chap--your sweetheart; and I came back with him too." "Then where is your cousin?" "How should I know?" "She did go away, then, the same night?" "Yes. Bolted after a row we had." "Is this true?" "Every blessed word of it; and I haven't seen her since. Now, tell me, you're very sorry for all you've said." "Tell me this; has she gone away with some one else?" "What do you want to know for?" "I want to find out that you are not such a wicked story-teller as I thought." "Well, I have told you that." "Who can believe you?" "You can. Come, I say; I thought you were going to be really a bit loving to me at last when I heard the whistle. It's been like courting a female porcupine up to now." "You know whom your cousin has gone with?" "Pretty sure," he said, sulkily. "Who is it?" "Oh, well, if you must know, Harry Dasent." "That cousin I saw here?" "Yes, bless him! Only wait till we meet." "Oh!" ejaculated Jenny, and then she turned to go; but Claud caught her arm. "No, no; you might say something kind now you've found out you're wrong." "Very well then, I will, Claud Wilton. First of all, I never cared a bit for you, and--" "Don't believe you. Go on," he said, laughing. "Secondly, take my advice and go away at once, for if my brother should meet you there will be a terrible scene. He believes horrible things of you, and I know he'll kill you." "Phew!" whistled Claud. "Then he has found out?" "Take my advice and go. He is terrible when he is roused, and I don't know what he'd do." "I say, this ain't gammon, is it?" "It is the solemn truth. Now loose my arm; you hurt me." "Well, it's all right, then, and perhaps it's for the best I am going off to-night to hunt out Harry Dasent. I should have gone before, but I had to be about with the guv'nor, making inquiries." "Then loose my arm at once, and go before it is too late." "It is too late," thundered a voice out of the gloom. "Jenny--sister-- is this you?" CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. Jenny uttered a faint cry, and staggered against the iron hurdle, bringing down a shower of drops upon her head. Leigh, after his words, uttered first in menace, then in a bitterly reproachful tone, paid no more heed to her, but turned fiercely upon Claud. "Now, sir," he cried; "have the goodness to--You scoundrel! You dog!" He began after the fashion taught by education, but nature was too strong. He broke off and tried to seize Claud by the throat; but, active as the animal mentioned, the young fellow avoided the onslaught, placed one hand upon the hurdle, and sprang over among the shrubs.