"That's all right, then," he said. "Well, then, now we can talk about when the wedding is to be." "No, no, Richard; not now, not now," she cried piteously, as she strove once more to get away. "But we will, though," said the young man, flushing at her resistance. "It's all been settled long enough that you were to be my wife, so let's have none of your `not nows,' miss." "Let me go into the house, please, Richard," said Eve, coldly. "Yes, my dear, when we've settled the wedding-day," said Richard. "We cannot settle that now, Richard," said Eve. "And why not, pray?" "Because," she said, with her heart beating and her voice faltering, "I cannot forget for certainly a year or two, that which has taken place during the past few weeks." "What?" he shouted. "I think you understand me, Richard," said the girl, quietly, and making no effort now to free the wrist he so tightly held. "Yes," he said, flushing with passion, "I do understand. You wish to throw me over because you have been angling for and catching that cursed intriguing parson." "Richard!" cried Eve, turning red and stamping her foot upon the ground, "I will not stop and listen to such language." "And in a passion, too," he said, mockingly, "because her favourite is spoken of; but it won't do, madam. You're promised to me, and I wish the wedding to take place as soon as it can. Don't you think I'm going to let that beggarly meddling priest come between us." "This is as cowardly as it is unjustifiable, Richard," exclaimed Eve. "Is it?" he retorted. "Don't you think I'm blind. I've seen your soft looks at him; and, curse him, if he comes here again I'll strangle him-- an insidious crafty Jesuit. But don't you think me such a child as to believe I'm to be treated like this." "You are hurting my wrist, Richard," said Eve, coldly, and speaking firmly now, for as her cousin began to bluster she grew calm. "Hang your wrist," he said angrily; "my hands are not so tender as the parson's, I suppose." "Richard," she said, with her voice trembling as she spoke, "Mr Selwood has always been to me as a gentlemanly, very kind friend, and to you the best of friends." "Damn his friendship," said Richard, looking ugly in his wrath. "He's my enemy, and always has been, and he's trying to win you away. Ah! I know what it means: I'm to be thrown over, and you take up with him." "Richard, this is as coarse as it is cruel and unjust," cried Eve, now regularly roused; "and I will not submit to it. Mr Selwood is nothing to me but a friend." "Indeed!" said Richard, with a sneer; "then pray what may this great change mean?" "Mean!" she cried, scornfully; and Richard's eyes lit up, for he thought he had never seen her look so attractive before, "it means that you have cruelly outraged my feelings by your wickedness and deceit." "My deceit!" he cried.