“Hang Mrs Hampton! How glad I shall be to see her back. But don’t tell her, Gertie.”
She gave him a sad look, and bent down to whisper:
“Remember.”
“Yes, I’ll remember,” was the reply, as her hand was caught and held for a few moments before she could withdraw it.
Saul Harrington’s teeth gritted together as he drew in his breath hard.
“The jade!” he said to himself. “Womanlike. It means diamonds and carriages, does it, my cunning little schemer? Well, we shall see.”
He watched her furtively as she went off slowly; but he could not see the tears welling up to her eyes and brimming over, as with bended head she returned to the house, and in place of going upstairs directly, went into the dining-room, to stand for a few minutes with hands clasped gazing up at the searching eyes of the picture; and her lips moved as she whispered softly:
“It is so—so hard, dear; but for your sake I will, and bring him back to what you wish him to be.”
“Bless her little heart!” said the master of The Mynns, with a sneering laugh, which made Saul start. “Nice little lassie, isn’t she? Do you know, old fellow, I believe you wish you were in my shoes.”
“Bah!”