"But I am, Miss Alice, and it ain't no good saying as I'm not. What right has he to give her presents and talk about taking her to London? I'll break his neck if he goes on with such talk."
Alice tried to defend the Spaniard, not because she thought he was acting rightly, but for the simple reason that she wished to talk Job into a calmer state of mind. At the moment the man was dangerous. "Don Pablo only admires Rose as a beautiful woman," she urged.
"Then he shan't. No one shall admire her but me. And if he wants to marry, Miss Alice——"
"Oh, nonsense," she broke in. "Why, he's too old."
"Well, they did say as you were going to marry him," retorted Trevel coolly.
"I am going to do nothing of the sort," cried the girl, stamping her foot. "I think you should be more sensible than to suggest such a thing."
"I didn't suggest it," said Job stolidly. "But the Squire wants——"
"I don't care what the Squire wants," interrupted Alice, with another stamp. "People say things they have no right to say. You are my foster-brother, Job, and I allow you more licence than most. But you must never speak to me in this way again."
"I didn't mean any harm, Miss Alice, and my heart is sore."