"No, it don't, miss," he responded gloomily. "She's got the bit between her teeth, she has. It's all that foreign devil, begging your pardon for the word, Miss Alice. I'd like to strangle him." "Don't be silly, talking in that way, Job. It's dangerous." "It will be for him, if he don't sheer off," muttered the man vengefully. "Job, you know quite well that Don Pablo is an old man: he must be eighty if an hour. You can't be jealous of him." "But I am, Miss Alice, and it ain't no good saying as I'm not. What right has he to give her presents and talk about taking her to London? I'll break his neck if he goes on with such talk." Alice tried to defend the Spaniard, not because she thought he was acting rightly, but for the simple reason that she wished to talk Job into a calmer state of mind. At the moment the man was dangerous. "Don Pablo only admires Rose as a beautiful woman," she urged. "Then he shan't. No one shall admire her but me. And if he wants to marry, Miss Alice----" "Oh, nonsense," she broke in. "Why, he's too old." "Well, they did say as you were going to marry him," retorted Trevel coolly. "I am going to do nothing of the sort," cried the girl, stamping her foot. "I think you should be more sensible than to suggest such a thing." "I didn't suggest it," said Job stolidly. "But the Squire wants----" "I don't care what the Squire wants," interrupted Alice, with another stamp. "People say things they have no right to say. You are my foster-brother, Job, and I allow you more licence than most. But you must never speak to me in this way again." "I didn't mean any harm, Miss Alice, and my heart is sore." "Poor Job!" Alice became sorry for the big man. "You do suffer, and Rose ought to be ashamed of herself to cause you such pain. Get her to marry you at once and laugh at Don Pablo." "She won't. He's got her fair under his thumb, Miss Alice," said Trevel gloomily. "I hate him, and so does everyone else. He's the only man as I ever heard the parson have a bad word for. There's something about that foreign chap," Job clenched a huge fist, "as makes you want to squash him like a toad." Alice nodded comprehendingly. "All the same you must do him no harm, or you will get into trouble. And remember, Job, that I am your friend"--she gave him her hand--"and to prove it I shall tell you what will please you. I am engaged to that gentleman over there--Mr. Montrose." Trevel shook the hand heartily and his face grew good-natured. "I'm fair glad of it, miss. I've seen the gentleman and like the gentleman. He's been down in the village with Mr. Hardwick, as we like also. As to that foreigner, miss--ugh!" Job scowled and turned away, while Alice went back to Douglas. "I have been trying to reconcile two lovers, but I have failed," she told him. "What is the cause of the quarrel?" asked the young man, amused. "A dangerous one. Don Pablo," and she gave details.