Fox laughed. His insolence had come back, as his fears abated.
"Faith! he has run away, because I scratched him with a pin. At the first prick he fainted."
Luke went to the door, and called in Bessie. He could not endure the association with Fox.
"Bess!" he said, "can I see your father?—I have a message for him from Tony."
"He is upstairs—in his bedroom," said Bessie. "I will tell him you are here when he descends."
"Come here," exclaimed Fox, who had recovered all his audacity, and with it boisterous spirits. "Come here, Bess, my dear, and let Cousin Curate Luke know how we stand to each other."
"And, pray," said Bessie, colouring, "how do we stand to each other?"
"My word! you are hot. We shall be asking him ere long to join our hands—so he must be prepared in time—he will have a pleasure in calculating the amount of his fee."
"Cousin Luke," said Bessie, "I am not sorry that he has mentioned this, for so I can answer him in your presence, and give him such an answer before you as he has had from me in private, but would not take. Never, neither by persuasion, nor by force, shall I be got to give my consent."
In spite of his self-control, Fox turned livid with rage.