"Maybe," says she, "I have a poor memory."
"There was one played in it t'other day like to you, miss," said I, with significance, thinking to rouse her.
She lifted her eyebrows. "Well, indeed," says she, indifferently.
"As handsome as I might wish to see—so she was," said I, persisting.
"Why! do you say so?" cries miss. "What a fortunate lady!" and stifles another yawn.
"You favour her, miss," says I, giving her an eye.
"Lard, I favour none, sir," said she, tartly. "I am cross like two sticks that could beat myself," and ere I could find a word in retort she had gone from the room.
If I had followed my first temper I should have marched from the house forthright, being sore to be so used by the minx; but I will admit she had a fascination for me, and wherein my teeth are set there I hold; so that I paced the chamber once or twice and "Faith," says I, angrily, "I will make the little cockatrice sing another tune afore I've done."
And no sooner was I come to this conclusion than the door at the foot of the room opened, and in walks an elegant gentleman. The sound made me turn, and I watched him till he came into the light of the candles, when I cried out sharply—for the face was no other than that which had lain behind the mask in that nocturnal attack. I took some steps across the room and halted by him, so that he might see me as clearly as I saw him.