"Then you won't."
"Does my mother know?"
"She does not. She knows me as Elspeth, and that must content her, and you together. Why do you wish to know about me?"
Pope leered at her, and his eyes flashed.
"I thought that if you were washed that you might be pretty."
"Well," said Elspeth, unmoved.
"And that I might marry you."
The girl flushed.
"I would sooner kill myself," she cried in a spirited tone. "My life is hard enough, but marriage with you"--she shuddered and cast a look of loathing at this creature, who dared to present himself as her lover.
"Oh, very well, miss," said Pope shrilly, his voice invariably grew shrill when he became angry, "I'll tell mother about you, and she'll make it hot for you. You piggish drudge," he raged, stamping up and down the tap-room, "you ugly cat--you nasty beast, I wouldn't marry you, if you were set with diamonds like--like----" he stopped, abruptly.