She returned with her face on fire. “That is what I get for taking your place!”
“What is the matter?”
“That impudent young villain wanted to kiss me.”
“Oh! is that all?”
“No! it is not all; he said I was the prettiest girl in Sydney” (with an appearance of rising indignation).
“Well! but, Jenny, that is no news, I could have told him that.”
“Then why did you never tell me?”
“I thought by your manner—you knew it.”
Having tried to propitiate the foe thus, Robinson lost no more time, but went upstairs and asked Mr. Miles for the trifle due to him as wages. Mr. Miles was very sorry, but he had been cleaned out at his friend Yates's—had not a shilling left and no hopes of any for a fortnight to come.
“Then, sir,” said Robinson doggedly, “I hope you will allow me to go into the town and try and make a little for myself, just enough to pay my traveling expenses.