“And entirely lack the important one. Till you have that, I don’t fear you. What is more, I’ll tell you what ’t is.”
“What?” asked the man.
“A reward,” sneered Fownes.
“I see I’ve a sly tyke to deal with,” said the man. “But if ye choose not—” The speaker checked himself as Janice came through the opening in the hedge, and the two stood silently watching her as she approached.
“Charles,” she said, when within speaking distance, while holding out the miniature, “I’ve decided you must take this.”
Charles smiled pleasantly. “Then ’t is your duty to make me, Miss Meredith,” he replied, folding his arms.
“Won’t you please take it?” begged Janice, not a little non-plussed by her position, and that Evatt should be a witness of it. “We know it belongs to you, and ’t is too valuable for me to—”
“How know you that?” questioned the man, still smiling pleasantly.
“Because ’t was with your clothes when you went in swimming,” said Janice, frankly.
“Miss Meredith,” replied Charles, “the word of a poor devil of a bond-servant can have little value, but I swear to you that that never belonged to me, and that I therefore have no right to it. If it gives you any pleasure, keep it.”