"What! Give her her own way in everything?" he said. "Is that what you're advising?"
"No. I'm not advising anything. I am only just telling you the truth," said Juliet. "You could make her love you—if you tried."
He stared at her for some seconds as if trying to read some riddle in her countenance. "You are a very remarkable young woman," he said at last. "I wouldn't part with you for a king's ransom. So you think I might turn that very unreasonable hatred of hers into love, do you?"
"I am quite sure," said Juliet steadily.
"I wonder if I should like it if I did!" said the squire.
She laughed—a sudden, low laugh. "Yes. You would like it very much. It's the last and greatest obstacle between you and happiness. Once clear that, and—"
"Did you say happiness?" he broke in cynically.
"Yes, of course I did." Her look challenged him. "Once clear that and if you haven't got a straight run before you—" She paused, looking at him oddly, very intently, and finally stopped.
"Well?" he said. "Continue!"
She coloured vividly under his eyes.