"Where would you have been if it hadn't been for me?" "Living with Aunt Price at Caerwmlych." "Starving with her, you mean, when she can hardly keep herself," said Mrs Lloyd, sharply. "Now, look here, Polly, I've taken you from a life of misery to make you well off and happy; and I will be minded. Do you hear me?" "Yes, aunt." "Then do as I tell you exactly. Do you hear?" "I'll try, aunt." "Try? You must. Now, then: Did he speak to you?" "Yes, aunt." "What did he say? Come, speak, child!" "He asked me who I was, aunt; and what I had come for." "Of course, you silly little thing. There, no more tears. It's dreadful treatment, isn't it, to make you go in and attend to him a little?" "Please, aunt, I don't mind that," said the girl. "No, I should think not, indeed," said Mrs Lloyd. "He's an ogre to look at, isn't he?" "No, aunt, I think he's a fine, handsome man." "Not a finer, nor a handsomer, nor a nicer in all Cornwall: and you ought to be fine and pleased to be in the house. And now look here, madam--no more tears, if you please." "No, aunt." "And you're always to be nicely dressed, and do your hair well." "Yes, aunt." "And keep yourself to yourself, madam. Recollect, please, that you're my niece, staying in the house, and not one of the servants." "Yes, aunt." The door opened, and the butler put in his head. "It's lunch-time now, and I am having the things taken in again." "That's quite right." "Do you want to come?" "Not now; only Mary shall bring in the vegetables." "Hadn't William better help?" said the butler. "No, not to-day. There will be a pack more people here to-morrow, and she can't come then. Here, child, take these clean napkins and be ready to carry them into the dining-room." "But my face, aunt--won't they see?" "What--that you have been crying?" said the housekeeper, critically. "No; they won't. Stop here a minute while I go out into the hall." The girl, from being scarlet, was now pale, but quite a little "rustic beauty" all the same; and she stood by the linen press looking very troubled, while Mrs Lloyd went back into the hall, where Trevor had stepped out to speak to the butler. "Oh, there you are, Mrs Lloyd," he said, in a quiet, decided tone of voice. "I was just speaking to Lloyd about one or two little matters. Of course, I feel the highest respect for both you and your worthy husband." "Thank you, Master Dick," said the housekeeper, stiffly. "Yes, that's it," said Trevor. "And of course you can't help looking upon me as the boy you were almost father and mother to at one time." "Of course not," said Mrs Lloyd, stiffly; "but you don't mean to turn us away now you have grown a man?"