Hartmann pulled to the gate again and returned slowly to the house. He stood at the entrance watching the two figures until they disappeared down one of the park avenues.
"I thought, when you said no, you meant it, Ulric?"
The young man turned round and scowled at Martha standing by his side.
"What is it to you?" said he, roughly.
"To me? nothing. Don't frown like that, Ulric. You are angry with me because I reminded my lady of the handkerchief; but it belonged to her, and what could you do with that soft, white little thing? You could not even touch it when you came home from work, and I am sure you have looked at it often enough!"
There was a slight but unmistakable touch of irony in the girl's voice, and Ulric must have noticed it, for he exclaimed hastily:
"Let me be! I will have none of your sneers and your spying. I tell you, Martha"----
"Now, now, what is to do out there? Are you two quarrelling?" interrupted the Manager, as he joined them at the door.
Ulric turned away with a muttered exclamation of anger, but he did not seem inclined to continue the discussion. Martha, without answering her uncle, hurried past him into the house.
"What is the matter with the girl?" asked the old man, looking after her wonderingly, "and what were you two about? Have you been giving her hard words again?"