“Not hurt me!” said Richard. “Why, they nearly killed me.”
“No, no,” sobbed Daisy.
“But they did; and they would if I hadn’t been rescued.”
Daisy suppressed a hysterical cry, and Richard passed his arm round her little waist, and drew her to him.
“Then you do love me a little, Daisy?” he whispered.
“No, no, I don’t think I do,” sobbed the girl, without, however, trying to get away. “I believe you were going to meet Miss Eve this morning, and were disappointed because I was there.”
“Indeed I was not,” said Richard. “But I’m sure you were expecting to see that great hulking hound, Tom Podmore.”
“That I was not,” cried Daisy, impetuously; “and I won’t have you speak like that of poor Tom, for I’ve behaved very badly to him, and he’s a good—good, worthy fellow.”
“‘Poor Tom!’” said Richard, with a sigh. “Ah, Daisy, Daisy.”
“Don’t, Mr Richard, please,” sobbed Daisy, who was crying bitterly.