He began his speech in a light, bantering way, but as he finished his face was flushed and angry, and his breath came thick and fast, while, still clutching the arm he held, he wrenched his head round and knelt there, gazing in the direction taken by Rolph. The thought which had held possession of Marjorie's breast twice, now came back with renewed power, and, casting all feeling of dread to the winds as she read her companion's face, she snatched at the opportunity. That Caleb hated Rolph was plain enough; there was a scar upon his lip now that had been made by the hand of one whom he feared as well as hated; and above all, after his fashion, Marjorie knew that he loved Judith. Here was the instrument to her hand. Why had she not thought of making use of it before? It was as if she were for the moment possessed, as, without trying now to release herself, she leaned forward and whispered in the young man's ear,-- "You coward!" He turned upon her in astonishment. "I say you are a coward," she repeated. "Why do you let him go and take her from you?" There was an animal-like snap of the teeth, as he snarled out,-- "Why do you let him go?" "Because I am a woman. I am not a man, and strong like you." "Curse him! I'll kill him," he snarled. "What good would that do?" "Eh?" "If I were a man like you, do you know how I would act?" "No," he said; "how could I?" and his lips parted, to show his white teeth in a peculiar laugh, before he gave a quick look to right and left, to satisfy himself that they were not seen. "I'd have revenge." "How? With a gun?" "And be hung for murder. No!" She leaned towards him, and she too gave a furtive look round, as, with her face flushed strangely, she whispered a few words to him--words that he listened to with his eyes half-closed, and then he turned upon her quickly. "Why? To bring him back to you?" he said, with a mocking laugh. "You love him?" "I hate him," she said slowly. "Yes," he said; "and you hate Judy Hayle, too, like the gipsy women hate sometimes. Why don't you stop it?" "Because I am helpless," she said bitterly. "Loose my arm. I knew it: you are a coward." "Am I?" he said, with an ugly smile. "Is this a trap?" "If you think so, let it be," she said contemptuously; and she tried again to shake her arm free, but the grasp upon it tightened. "Perhaps I am a coward," he said; "but I will. He wouldn't marry her then, and it would be serving him out. Not for nothing, though," he added, with a laugh. "What will you give me?" "Pah!" she said contemptuously; "how much do you want?" He laughed and leaned forward, gazing full in her face. "Perhaps I shall get into trouble again for it," he said, "and be shut up for a year--perhaps for more. It's to play your game as well as mine, and I must be paid well." "Well, I will pay you," she said. "Tell me what you want."