"Oh yes, I know I'm a fool--fool to believe all your wicked lies. And so would you be jealous. I saw it all last time she was here--a slut engaged to be married to your brother, and all the time making eyes at you, while you are carrying on with her shamefully, and before me, too. It's cruel and disgraceful. I may be only a servant, but I've got my feelings the same as other people, and I'd die sooner than behave as she did, and you did, and--and--I wish I was dead, I do--that I do." "Will you be quiet, you silly little goose. Do you want everybody in the house to know of our flirtation?" "Flirtation!" cried the girl, wiping her streaming eyes. "You regularly proposed and asked me to be your wife." "Why, of course. Haven't I promised that I would marry you some day?" "Yes--some day," said the girl bitterly; "but some day never comes. Oh, Jessop, dear Jessop! you made me love you so, and you're breaking my heart, going on as you do with that Miss Praed." She threw her arms about his neck, and clung to him till he roughly forced her to quit her hold. "Are you mad?" he said angrily. "Yes, very nearly," cried the girl, with her pretty, fair, weak face lighted up with rage. "You've made me so. I'll tell Mr Clive as soon as he comes back from Derbyshire--see if I don't!" "You'd better," said Jessop grimly. "You dare say a word to a soul, and I'll never put a ring on your finger, my lady--there!" "Yes, you will--you shall!" cried the girl passionately. "You promised me, and the law shall make you!" "Will you be quiet? You'll have my father hear you directly." "And a good job too." "Oh, you think so, do you?" "Yes, I do. Master's a dear, good gentleman, and always been nice and kind. I'll tell him--that I will!" "Not you. There, wipe those pretty little blue eyes, and don't make your dear little puggy nose red, nor your cheeks neither. I don't know, though," whispered Jessop, passing his arm round the girl and drawing her to him; "it makes you look very sweet and attractive. I say, Lyddy, dear, you are really a beautiful girl, you know." "Do adone, Jessop," she whispered, softening directly, and yielding herself to his touch. "I couldn't help loving you, darling, and I love you more and more every day, though you will lead me such a life with your jealousy. I never find fault with you when I see you smiling at Clive." "But it is not as I do at you, dear. Mr Clive was always quite the gentleman to me, and it hurts me to see you trying so hard to get Miss Janet away from him." "There you go again, little silly. Isn't she going to be my sister-in-law?" "It didn't look like it." "Pish! What do you know about such things? In society we are obliged to be a bit polite, and so on." "Oh, are we? I know; and if I told Mr Clive, he'd think as I do. I won't have you make love to her before my very eyes--there!"