He brushed them indignantly all down together in a heap upon the hearth.
"You sha'n't have them, then!" said he, and ground them with his heel into the ashes.
"I can sell my mother's jewels!" said she, defiantly.
"I can confiscate them for the balance of the half-year's income of the estate!"
Éloise turned pale with pride and anger and fear and mastery.
"We are talking very idly," said St. George, then, softening his falcon's glance. "Pray excuse such savage jesting. I should like to share my grandfather's estate with you, the adopted child of his elder grandson. It looks fairly enough, I think."
"Talking very idly. I have assured you that I never will touch it. And if you want more, here I swear it!"
"Hush! hush!"
"It's done!" said Éloise, exultantly, and almost restored to good-humor by the little triumph.
"And you won't reconsider? you won't break it? you will not let me beg you"—