She was about to decline, when she caught Richard Linnell's eyes fixed upon her and her companion, and, urged by a feeling of coquetry, and a desire to try and move him to speak to her, if it were only to reproach, she took the offered arm, and, throwing a lace scarf over her head, allowed her partner to lead where he would, and that was naturally down one of the darkest grass alleys of the grounds. "Do you know, Miss Dean," he began thickly, "I never saw a girl in all my life who--" "Can we see the sea from the grounds here?" said Cora. "Yes; lovely view," he said. "Down here;" and he led her farther from the house. "There, you can see the sea from here, but who would wish to see the sea when he could gaze into the lovely eyes of the most--" "Is not that an arbour?" said Cora, as they stood now in one of the darkest parts of the garden. "Yes. Let's sit down and have a talk, and--" "Will you lead the way?" said Cora. "Yes; give me your hand--eh--why--what dooce! She's given me the slip. Oh, 'pon my soul, I'll pay her for that." He started back towards the house, passing close by Cora, who had merely stepped behind a laurustinus, and who now went in the other direction, along a grass path at the back of the lawn. Her white satin slippers made not the slightest sound, and she was about to walk straight across the lawn and out into the light, when a low, deep murmur reached her ear, and she recognised the voice. "Major Rockley," she said to herself. "Who is he with?" Her jealous heart at once whispered "Claire!" "If I could but bring Richard face to face with them now!" she thought, "he would turn to me after all." She hesitated, for the thought of the act being dishonourable struck her; but in her mental state, and with her defective education, she was not disposed to yield to fine notions of social honour; and, with her heart beating fast, she hurried softly along the grass, to find herself well within hearing of the speakers. The words she heard were not those of love, for they were uttered more in anger. It was at times quite a quarrel changing to the tone of ordinary conversation. Cora glanced behind her, to see the brightly lit-up house and hear the strains of music and the sounds of laughter and lively remark, while, by contrast with the glow in that direction, the bushes amid which she stood and into which she peered seemed to be the more obscure. There was a pause, and then a woman's voice said quickly: "No, no; I cannot. You must not ask me, indeed." A curious feeling of disappointment came over Cora, for her plan was crushed on the instant. What were other people's love affairs to her? She was turning away with disgust, when the deep voice of the Major said quickly, and in a menacing way which rooted the listener to the spot: "But I say you shall. One word from me, and you might have to leave Saltinville for good. I mean for your own good." "Oh, Rockley!"