"Anything else? What do you want to say to her? I won't have it, I tell you…. What do you mean by spying after me? That's your game, is it?"
"I want to speak to her."
With averted face the young lady fled up the oak staircase, her handkerchief to her lips. Esther made a movement as if to follow, but William prevented her. She turned and walked down the passage and entered the kitchen. Her face was one white tint, her short, strong arms hung tremblingly, and William saw that it would be better to temporise.
"Now look here, Esther," he said, "you ought to be damned thankful to me for having prevented you from making a fool of yourself."
Esther's eyelids quivered, and then her eyes dilated.
"Now, if Miss Margaret," continued William, "had—"
"Go away! go away! I am—" At that moment the steel of a large, sharp-pointed knife lying on the table caught her eye. She snatched it up, and seeing blood she rushed at him.
William retreated from her, and Mrs. Latch, coming suddenly in, caught her arm. Esther threw the knife; it struck the wall, falling with a rattle on the meat screen. Escaping from Mrs. Latch, she rushed to secure it, but her strength gave way, and she fell back in a dead faint.
"What have you been doing to the girl?" said Mrs. Latch.
"Nothing, mother…. We had a few words, that was all. She said I should not go out with Sarah."