“I took it, sir, to my sorrow, for she wouldn’t have nothing to do with me. I went so far as to try and kiss her.”
“Yes. And then?”
“And then, sir, she pushed me off, that’s all, and stood there saying things that I would rather forget. But here’s the story, sir.” And with a certain amount of glozing and omission, he told the tale of his repulse.
“Your case does not seem very promising,” said Mr. Levinger lightly, for he did not wish to show his vexation; “but perhaps the lady will still change her mind. As you know, it is often darkest before the dawn.”
“Oh yes, sir,” answered Samuel, with a kind of sullen confidence, “sooner or later she will change her mind, never fear, and I shall marry her, I am sure of it; but she won’t change her heart, that’s the point, for she’s given that to another.”
“Well, perhaps, if you get the rest of her, Mr. Rock, you may leave the heart to the other, for that organ is not of very much practical use by itself, is it? Might I ask who the other is?”
Samuel shook his head gloomily, and answered:
“It’s all very well for you to joke about hearts, sir, as haven’t got one—I mean, as don’t take no interest in them; but they’re everything to me—at least Joan’s is. And as for who it is, sir, if half I hear is true, it’s that Captain, I mean Sir Henry Graves. You warned me against him, you remember, and you spoke strong because I grew angry. Well, sir, I did right to be angry, for it’s him she loves, Mr. Levinger, and that’s why she hates me. They’re talking about them all over Bradmouth.”
“Indeed. Well, Bradmouth always was a great place for scandal, and I should not pay much attention to their tongues, were I you, Mr. Rock. Girls will have their fancies, you know, and I do not think it is necessary to hunt round for explanations because this one happens to flout you. I dare say it will all come right in time, if you have a little patience. Anyway there will be no more gossip about Joan Haste and Sir Henry Graves, for he has gone home, where he will find plenty of other things to occupy him, poor fellow. And now I have a plan of the shed here: perhaps you can explain it to me.”
Samuel expounded his plan and went away, this time without the offer of any port wine, for it seemed to his host that he was already quite sufficiently excited.