“Was ever solicitude more impudent?” he murmured. “To press me to fatten on my own wine for the sacrifice!” Once more he went to and fro, while dark gathered about him. Not long elapsed before he leapt towards the door with a positive curse to hear it turn on its hinges again. “Who’s there?” he cried angrily, and strode upon the offender. He had no blame for it this time. He pulled her down into his arms, and pushed the door to, and fondled and caressed this poor partner of his disgrace. She was all frightened and trembling, it seemed; and she buried herself against him as a young rabbit snuggles into a corner. “Where have you been this long hour, my Betty?” he said softly. “I wanted to attend the lady of ‘Chatters’; but she was angry with me and has been saying cruel things.” “Never mind them, my bird. People of her condition talk from the head; and that so often aches from confinement in close rooms that it makes them disagreeable.” “It isn’t true what she said--that no foolish grace of yours can make an honest woman of me?” “It isn’t true, Betty.” “Why, I know my heart, and that the blame is mine. But you wouldn’t so punish me for a little offence. I would follow you through all the world, and take her gibes right meekly at your bidding. I am the better woman in my faith, and she’d give all her ladyship and her diamonds to know of you what I know.” “If you are sure, Betty, I must believe--for you never speak an untruth.” “Why should I, and shame my love? I have nothing but that to make me worthy of you.” She clung to him and looked up in his eyes, imploring. “When shall we be free? Oh, ’tis all the same as if you were a plough-boy.” “Fortune favour us, my dear, and I will marry you in a month.” She cried a little at that. “Shall I ever do you credit and repay your goodness? I only want to belong to you and not make people stare or call me a knowing jade that has captured her gentleman. Let me live apart and not come to table again, and I’ll strive and strive to pick up the grand ways and read a book of fashion.” “What! and cease to be yourself that I love? Girl we will eschew the conventions, and entertain no company but that of kennels and hutches and beehives. I would rather know the nightingales in my wood than fifty birds of paradise in turbans round my table.” They started apart as a knock came to the door. Bidden to enter, one of the grooms, pale, eager, and excited, stepped hurriedly down into the room, his gun over his arm. “Sir,” he said, “a man is come from the snow and is knocking at the door for admittance.” CHAPTER LI. “A man? What man?” said Tuke. “George, sir, looking from above, cries that ’tis him with the white hair.” “Come with me and have your gun in readiness.” Betty ran forward with clasped hands. “Oh! don’t go, don’t go!” she whispered. He smiled down upon her. “I will parley voo from the passage, my dear; and Will shall point his barrel at the key-hole.”