But the facile jade easily repulsed and eluded her.
“Give over,” she said. “You’re no match for me.”
And indeed it was obvious to the poor girl that she was not. So she desisted in a moment, and resolved upon the better part of dignity, which is contempt.
“Keep your secret,” she said, panting. “After all, its shame is better hidden out of sight. Do you know who I am?”
“I can guess,” said Moll.
“Go to him, then. You will find him seeking for you, yonder in the open. Tell him that he is welcome to his goods for me; that I have seen them and understand their attraction to one so sunk in base corruption as himself.”
“Come, now,” said Moll. “Keep a civil tongue in your head.”
Did Kate suspect? She glanced anyhow, in a startled, puzzled way, at the dim face menacing her, before she turned on her heel, and, with her head held erect, swept away. She made for the narrow track, leaving the other standing where she was, and had passed but half-way down it, when she met Hamilton face to face. The scarf in his hat was plainly distinguishable; she took him for her husband, and stood rigidly aside to let him pass.
“Ah, little wicked truant!” said he; “but I have run you to earth at last. What made you scamper from the great musician in that panic fashion?”
His voice insensibly perplexed her; but her emotions were in too prejudiced a state to serve her for trusty interpreters.