Mrs. Verstage evaded a reply to this. She said: "I do not press you to take him. You are kindly welcome to stay on with us a bit, till you've looked about you and found another. We took you up as a babe and cared for you; but the parish allowance was stopped when you was fourteen. It shan't be said of us that bare we took you in and bare we turn you out. But marry you must. It's ordained o' nature. There's the difference atwixt a slug and a snail. The snail's got her own house to go into. A slug hasn't. When she's uncomfortable she must go underground." The hostess was silent for awhile. Mehetabel said nothing. Her cheeks burned. She was choking. Mrs. Verstage went on: "There was Betsy Purvis--she was a bit of a beauty, and gave herself airs. She wouldn't have Farmer James, as his legs was so long, he looked like a spider--and she wouldn't have Odger Kay, as his was too short--he looked like a dachs-dog. It came in the end she married Purvis, who had both his legs shot off in the wars, 'cos and why? she couldn't get another. She'd been too finical in choosin'." "Are you tired of me?" gasped the girl. "Do you wish to be rid of me?" "Not at all," answered the landlady. "It's becos we're so fond of you, father and I, that we want to see you well settled." "And father--does he wish me to take Bideabout?" Mrs. Verstage hesitated. "He hasn't said that right out. You see he didn't know for certain Jonas were hoppin' about you. But he'd be tremendous pleased to have you well married." "And you think I should be well married if I became Bideabout's wife?" "Of course. He's a great catch for the likes of you, who belong to nobody and to no place, properly. Beggars mustn't be choosers." Mehetabel sprang to her feet. "It is so. I am a beggar. I am only a charity girl, nothing else." She struck her head against the wall. "Let me beat my brains out if I am in your way. Why should I be thrown into the arms of any passer-by? "You misjudge and misunderstand me," said Mrs. Verstage, hotly. "Because you have been with me so long, and because I love you, I want to see you settled. Because I can't give you a prince in spangles and feathers you fly out against me." "I don't ask for a prince, only to be let alone. I am happy here, as a girl, working for you and father." "But we shall not live forever. We are growing old, and shall have to give up. Iver may return any day, and then--" The hostess became crimson to the temples; she knew how handsome the girl was, doubly handsome she seemed now, in her heat and agitation, and it occurred to Mrs. Verstage that Iver with his artistic appreciation of the beautiful, might also think her handsome, that the old childish fancy for each other might spring to new and to stronger life, and that he might even think of Mehetabel as a wife. That would never, never do. For Iver something better must be found than a girl without means, friends, and name.