Mary did not understand him, and made no reply. Another fit came. This time she kept her distance.
"Come here," he howled; "take my head in your hands."
She obeyed.
"Damned nice hands you've got!" he gasped; "much nicer than your mistress's."
Mary took no notice. Gently she withdrew her hands, for the fit was over.
"I see! that's the way of you!" he said, as she stepped back. "But come now, tell me how it is that a nice, well-behaved, handsome girl like you, should leave a position where, they tell me, you were your own mistress, and take a cursed place as lady's maid to my wife."
"It was because I liked Mrs. Redmain so much," answered Mary. "But, indeed, I was not very comfortable where I was."
"What the devil did you see to like in her? I never saw anything!"
"She is so beautiful!" said Mary.
"Is she! ho! ho!" he laughed. "What is that to another woman! You are new to the trade, my girl, if you think that will go down! One woman taking to another because 'she's so beautiful'! Ha! ha! ha!"