“Go down,” said Dale, writhing beneath the sense of degradation he felt at being under this obligation to the poor little slut before him.
“Yes, Mr Dale, sir; but please don’t you be cross with me. I don’t mind missus, but it hurts me if you are.”
“Go down.”
“Yes, sir,” said the girl, with a sob; and the tears began to make faint marks on her dirty face. “I wouldn’t ha’ done it, sir, on’y I knowed you was in love with her and wanted to be alone.”
“Poor Cornel!” muttered Dale as he turned away. “Fallen so low as this! If you only knew!”
“Please, Mr Dale, sir, have I done very wrong?” she whimpered.
“No; go down now.”
“Keren—Hap—puch!”
“Comin’, mum,” cried the girl, thrusting her head out of the door, and then turning back “Oh, thankye, sir. I don’t mind now.”
Dale fastened the door after her; and as he turned back, that of the inner room opened, and Valentina came out with her eyes flashing and a joyful look upon her face, as she took his arm and nestled to him.