Before his impatient show of authority, every one stupidly gave way, and, lifting her carefully in his arms, Carey Doyle placed Jessie in the dogcart, while he muttered exultantly to himself:
“Ah, my scornful little beauty, you are in my power now, and I will pay you well for your fine airs as well as for the kick that rich fool gave me!”
He was about to leap into the cart when an elegant victoria drove up, in which sat two very handsome women. One of them, the youngest, leaned forward and called him to her side.
Flashing her great eyes imperiously at the impatient young man, she whispered eagerly:
“What is she to you?”
He muttered curtly:
“My sweetheart!”
“Ah!” she murmured joyfully, and added softly: “I saw you come up behind them and frighten his horses with the lash. Why did you do it?”
His coarse face was scowling as he answered sullenly:
“She went with him against my will, and I was furious enough to kill them both!”