"Hold hard, Jervas!" exclaimed my uncle George, clutching my left arm. "'Twas I found him!" "But consider, my dear George," sighed my uncle Jervas, laying elegant hand upon my right shoulder, "I bear the brunt of her blame, as usual--" "But damme, Jervas--" "But pray reflect further, dear George; I am, alas, slightly your senior and, as such, claim the right--" "But my dear uncles," I interrupted at this juncture, "pray remark that I have no intention of returning home for some time." "Oh, indeed, nephew?" sighed my uncle Jervas, his slim hand tightening a little. "May one venture to ask why?" "I know!" sighed uncle George. "Women, Jervas--feminine spells, poor lad!" "For one thing," I answered patiently, "because I have decided to become a tinker for a while." "Hum!" murmured my uncle Jervas. "A useful trade, but scarcely one I should have chosen for you--still--" "And there he is, at last!" exclaimed uncle George suddenly, and beckoned with imperious hand; thus, glancing whither he looked, I espied Jessamy Todd and, with a sudden twist, I broke away and ran to meet her who walked at Jessamy's side. "O Diana!" I exclaimed, "I have been looking for you all afternoon. Come!" And taking her hand, I led her up to my astonished uncles. "Sirs," said I, "it is my privilege to introduce my friend Diana, whom I hope to marry as soon as possible." For a long moment after I had spoken, Diana stood, shapely head aloft, fronting their amazed scrutiny in proud and sullen defiance; when at last she spoke, her voice sounded all untroubled and serene. "I know," said she, nodding, "I know what's in your minds--you'm thinking as I ain't fit for him! Well, my fine gentlemen, he shouldn't marry me, even if he loved me--which he don't, or I loved him--which I don't and never shall!" Then without so much as a glance in my direction, she turned and sped away. But I was not to be left thus, for, escaping uncle George's restraining clutch, I followed her; glancing back, I saw my uncle Jervas, white, impressive hand on Jessamy's shoulder, speaking very earnestly to him and with his keen gaze fixed on myself. It was amid the jostling traffic of the booths that I found her; she was standing before a stall devoted to the sale of gauds and finery, but espying me she made off and I, intent on pursuit, was wriggling my way through the crowd when rose a sudden cry of "Thieves! Robbery! Stop thief!" Rough hands seized me and, checked thus rudely in full career, I was swung around to confront a small, fierce-eyed fellow who cursed and swore, hopped and flourished his fists under my nose in very threatening and unpleasant manner. "V'ere is it, ye young wagabone?" he demanded in shrill accents. "V'ere is it? As fine a lady's lookin'-glass as ever vas, a genuine hantique framed in solid silver an' worth its weight in gold. V'at ha' ye done wi' it, you desp'rit, thievin' young willin', you?"