"You had better return to the house, Mrs Lloyd," said Trevor, coldly. "I want to speak to you." "You can speak now, if you please," said the woman, in a low, suppressed voice. "I don't suppose you would like the servants to know." Trevor was getting angry, and he took a step towards the woman, and held up a finger. "You have been watching me, Mrs Lloyd." "Yes," she said, coolly--"I came on purpose." "You sent that poor girl here, then, Mrs Lloyd, and you have been playing the spy?" "You can call it any hard names you like, Mr Richard," said the woman, defiantly. She rolled her white apron round her arms, tightened her lips until they formed a thin livid line, and looked at him without flinching. Trevor bit his lip to keep down his rising passion, and then went on-- "Mrs Lloyd," he said, "I thought we had made a truce. Mind, you are the one who breaks it, not I." The woman laughed mockingly. "We may as well understand one another," said Trevor; "so speak out. You have been forcing that poor girl, day after day, to throw herself in my way--have you not?" "Yes." She nodded her head many times, as she said the word with quite a sharp hiss. "You wanted me to take a fancy to her?" "Yes." "To marry her?" "Yes." "And make her the mistress of Penreife?" "Yes; and I mean to do it." Trevor stared at her, in wonder at the effrontery displayed. "And, in your foolish vanity, you thought such a thing possible?" "Yes." "Regardless of the poor girl's feelings?" "Yes--yes--yes!" said Mrs Lloyd, slowly. "I know what is for her good--and yours." "Mrs Lloyd," said Trevor, coldly, "I would gladly keep to my promise with you, that you should never leave Penreife. If harm to your prospects comes of this, don't blame me. You had better go back to the house." He turned, as if to walk away; but she caught him sharply by the wrist. "Stop!" she cried, angrily. "Tell me this. Have you been trying to make an engagement with that wax doll up at Tolcarne?" "You insolent old--There, go back, Mrs Lloyd," he cried, checking himself. "You must be mad." "Mad? Yes, enough to make me, you wild, ungrateful boy," she cried, her fingers tightening round his wrist, so that it would have taken a violent effort to free himself. "Stop, and listen to me." Trevor looked at her, his anger cooling; for he thought the housekeeper was suffering from mental excitement brought on by the disappointment consequent upon the failure of her plans. "What do you want to say?" he said, quietly. "A great deal. Ah, you see, you must listen. Now tell me--that Miss Rea, have you been talking to her father and mother?" "Yes," said Trevor, thinking it better to humour her till he could get her back to the house. "Then go and break it all off--at once. Do you hear--at once." "And why, pray?" said Trevor, smiling--the position, now that his anger had passed, seeming ridiculous. "Because you are to marry little Mary, as I wish," said Mrs Lloyd, in a quick whisper.