“That you’ve got to keep away from the cottage yonder. I’m not going to have you poaching on my preserves.”
“What do you mean?”
“That Dinah Gurdon’s mine—my lass; and that I’d break the neck of any man who came between us two.”
Jessop looked at the man in astonishment for a few minutes, and then burst into a mocking laugh.
“You!” he cried. “Oh, this is too rich.”
“What!” cried Sturgess, who was black with fury.
“You be damned!” cried Jessop; and rudely thrusting the man aside, making him wince as he touched his wounded arm, strode away.