"That he has," assented Dan, heartily. "Look how kind he has been to Meg. I do not know what she would have done without yourself and Mr. Jarner." "Ob, I have done very little," said Miss Linisfarne, carelessly. "It was a great pleasure to me to help the poor child. I am afraid you find her very rough and countrified?" "Indeed, no. I think her perfection as she is. It would be a sin to turn her into a fine London lady." "What do you know about London ladies?" "What indeed!" said Dan, laughing to hide his confusion. "I am only a vagabond." "I think we argued that question before, and disagreed upon it. You are no vagabond, though it pleases you to pass as one. By the way, you promised to tell me your name in a week or so. It is now two months since then, and I am still ignorant of it." "I cannot tell you at present," muttered Dan, awkwardly; "on some future occasion I may." Miss Linisfarne was disappointed at this denial, but did not see her way to press the matter. Nevertheless, she skilfully made use of the opportunity to reintroduce the topic of Meg. "It pleases you to be mysterious," she said coldly, "and I trust your motives are straightforward." "I think I can answer for them. With regard to whom?" "Meg Merle! You are constantly with her, and I do not think that it is right that you should be." "Why not?" asked Dan, with a frown. The significance of her tone annoyed him. "Well, for one thing, it is not right for the girl herself; for another--her lover may take exception to your conduct." "Miss Linisfarne!" He had leaped to his feet, and was looking at her with angry eyes. She gazed at him with admiration, and thought she had never seen him look so handsome; yet, undeterred by his wrath, persisted in her line of conduct. "Ah, you are astonished, I see. You did not know, then, that Meg was engaged to be married?" "I cannot believe it." "Nevertheless, it is true. That is why she is so indifferent to your suit." "What do you mean?" said Dan, rather confused by the rapidity with which she pressed the attack. "Oh, I am not blind! I know you are in love with her. Your devotion is quite useless, as you can see from her demeanour. She----" "That is innocence," he interrupted roughly. "She does not know the meaning of love. She has never thought of marriage. I do not--I cannot believe that she is engaged. Her whole life gives the lie to such an assertion." "You are discourteous." "I beg your pardon, I did not mean to be so," he replied apologetically; "but it is impossible. You must be mistaken." "Ask Mr. Byrne of Silkstone if I am mistaken. Meg may deny it, but he----" "Why should she deny it? If she is engaged to be married to this Silkstone man of whom you speak, there is no necessity to keep it secret. But I tell you it cannot be. If it were so she would have told me. She is an innocent child, who cannot keep a secret." "She kept this one, however."