“O, I know what you mean! But who’ll believe such a little rogue and liar! And who do you think will get the best of a contest of wits between us? But tell his lordship if you will. I’m at that reckless stage I should welcome a sharp decision with him. For you, you’ve proved yourself a worse than useless partner in the business--earning the man’s aversion instead of his love, and by your hints and antics bringing the pair nearer, through a mutual jealousy, than you found them. But I understood now why it was, and just the value of the scruples you were so nice in expressing. They waited on the highest bidder, didn’t they? and I wish you luck of him now you’ve got him. Upon my soul, Mrs. Davis, you have my sincere respect as one of the artfullest little timeservers that ever knew how to take a profit of circumstance.” “I don’t know what you mean.” “O! of course not. Innocence in a wimple, like a very pansy of the fields.” “You want me to go, I suppose?” “Why, your talents, I confess, seem wasted in this dull corner of the palace. There are livelier quarters for their exercise--the Duke of York’s, for instance.” He took his hands from her shoulders; but their grip might still have imprisoned her, so rigid remained her attitude. “You won’t let me see the King?” she said. “Hey-day!” jeered he. “Not short of the very highest will content this country chip. But nothing for nothing, say I.” She stood quite motionless, conning him--stood for a full minute, without a word. And then she shook her shoulders, and laughed, and held out her hand to him. “Well, then, good-bye, George,” she said. “I think you’re hard on me; but I bear no malice, and we’ll part friends, won’t we?” “Advice isn’t dismissal,” said Hamilton; “and you’re not my guest.” “No, I know,” she answered. “But, truth is, his lordship was equally emphatic about my wanting a change--or perhaps it was himself wanted it; I’m not sure. Well, I’ll take a day to consider of it. You wouldn’t think better of me, I suppose, if in the meantime I were able to put you right about a certain question you’ve been puzzling yourself over?” “What question, fubbs?” He felt quite kindly to her again, since she had yielded so submissively to his suggestion. The little rogue’s face of her, drawn in silver-point and just touched with pink, looked a sweet spiritual flower in the moonlight. “O, I mustn’t tell,” she said, “or it would spoil everything.” “Then how can I answer for my better thoughts?” he protested. “No, you can’t, of course,” she said. “Only I don’t want us to part enemies.” “Come,” he said; “kisses are more proof than words.” But, at that, with a light laugh, she sprang past him, and ran. At twenty yards she turned, blew him a mocking salute, and again turning, disappeared round a corner.