"Watching me?" "Yes, sir. I did not mean to, but I was obliged when I saw what I did." "Then you saw me talking to that girl?" "Yes, sir, I did; and you had no right to do so." "How dare you speak to me like that, sir?" roared Trevor; and thoroughly roused now, he caught the young keeper by the throat, and for a few moments the ferns were trampled under foot as they wrestled together, till the veins stood up in knots in Humphrey's white forehead, as his hat fell off, and, grinding his teeth together, he put out his strength, and, with all the skill of a Cornish wrestler, threw Trevor heavily on his back. "You would have it," said the keeper, hoarsely. "You made me forget my place; so don't blame me for it. Have I hurt you, sir?" The rage had departed as quickly as it came, and the young man went down on one knee by Trevor, who was half-stunned, but recovered himself quickly, and got up. "No. I'm not much hurt," he said, hoarsely. "You made me do it, sir," said Humphrey, pitifully. "You shouldn't have laid hands on me, sir--it made me mad." "Made you mad!" said Trevor, angrily. "This is a pretty way to serve your master." "You're no master of mine, sir, from now," cried Humphrey. "I can't stand to serve you no more. I'd have stuck to you, sir, through thick and thin, if you'd been a gentleman to me, but--" "Do you dare to say I've not been a gentleman to you, you scoundrel?" cried Trevor, menacingly, as he clenched his fists. "Now, don't 'ee, sir," cried Humphrey, appealingly. "I don't want to hurt you, and if you drive me to it I shall do you a mischief." "You thick-headed, jealous dolt!" cried Trevor, restraining himself with difficulty. "How can you be such an ass?" "I don't blame you, sir," cried Humphrey, "not so much as that silly old woman who has set it all going." "Then it is all true?" cried Trevor, angrily. "Humphrey," he said, "you're as great a fool as that mother of yours; and--there, I'll speak out, though you don't deserve it: as to little Polly, you great dolt, I never said a tender word to her in my life." "Why, I saw you with her hand in yours, not ten minutes ago," cried Humphrey, indignantly. "I've been calling you fool and dolt, Humphrey," said Trevor, cooling down, "when I've been both to let my passion get the better of me, as it has. There's a wretched mistake over this altogether; and more mischief done," he continued, bitterly, "than you can imagine. You think, then, that Mrs Lloyd has that idea in her head?" "Think, sir!" cried the keeper, hotly, "I know it. Hasn't she forbidden me to speak to the poor girl? Hasn't she half-broken her heart?" "Humphrey," said Trevor, "you had good reason for feeling angry, but not with me." Humphrey looked at him searchingly. "You doubt me?" said Trevor. "Will you say it again, sir?" cried the young man, pitifully--"will you swear it?"