At Love's Cost

"Oh, yes, but I do!" he broke in eagerly, and with a little air of

relief. "I'm in earnest, 'pon my word, I am. I'm awfully in love with

you; and if you'll say yes, I'll stand up to the guv'nor and make it

all square for you."

"But I say 'No,'" said Ida, rather sternly, her lips setting tightly,

her eyes flashing in the darkness, which, fortunately for Joseph, hid

them from his sight. "Please do not speak to me in this way again."

"But look here!" he stammered, his face red, his thick lips twisted in

an ugly fashion, "do you know what you're doing--saying?"

"Yes," she said, more sternly than before. "I think it is you who do

not know what you are saying. You cannot mean to insult me. I beg your

pardon, Joseph. I do not mean to be angry, to hurt your feelings. I

think you mean to pay me a great honour; and I--I thank you; but I

cannot accept it. And please take this as my final answer, and never,

never, speak to me again in this manner."

"Do you mean to say--" he began angrily.

"Not another word, please," said Ida, and she hurried forward so that

they came within hearing of Isabel.

Nothing more was said until they reached Laburnum Villa. Mrs. Heron was

waiting up for them, and was expressing a hope that they had enjoyed

themselves--she had a woollen shawl round her shoulders and spoke in an

injured voice and with the expression of a long-suffering martyr--when

she caught sight of Joseph's angry and sullen face as he flung himself

into a chair and thrust his hands in his pockets, and she stopped short

and looked from him to Ida, and sniffed suspiciously and aggressively.

"Oh, yes," said Joseph, with an ugly sneer and a scowl at Ida as she

was leaving the room, "we have had a very happy time--some of us--a

particularly happy time, I don't think!"