"As to that— Do she want to know, or do you?"
"We both—at least——"
She caught him up.
"Ho-ho! An' what be you to her that she should care a rush who your faither was?"
"Well—a secret understanding——"
"Unknown to her faither?"
"'Tis so, but for God's sake, grandmother——"
"Say it out, then, or I'll peach. Come now——"
"Will you swear before heaven to tell nobody—not a breath to any living soul?"
"I'll swear hard and fast—may my liver rot if I whimper it," said Lovey, already speculating what the lad's confession might be worth to Maurice Malherb.