Cashel Byron's Profession

"Yes; I believe I picked it up in the colonies." Then he added,

sullenly, "I suppose I shouldn't use slang in speaking to you. I beg

your pardon."

"I do not object to it. On the contrary, it interests me. For

example, I have just learned from it that you have been in

Australia."

"So I have. But are you out with me because I annoyed Miss Goff?"

"By no means. Nevertheless, I sympathize with her annoyance at the

manner, if not the matter, of your rebuke."

"I can't, for the life of me, see what there was in what I said to

raise such a fuss about. I wish you would give me a nudge whenever

you see me making a fool of myself. I will shut up at once and ask

no questions."

"So that it will be understood that my nudge means 'Shut up, Mr.

Cashel Byron; you are making a fool of yourself'?"

"Just so. YOU understand me. I told you that before, didn't I?"

"I am afraid," said Lydia, her face bright with laughter, "that I

cannot take charge of your manners until we are a little better

acquainted."

He seemed disappointed. Then his face clouded; and he began, "If you

regard it as a liberty--"

"Of course I regard it as a liberty," she said, neatly interrupting

him. "Is not my own conduct a sufficient charge upon my attention?

Why should I voluntarily assume that of a strong man and learned

professor as well?"

"By Jingo!" exclaimed Cashel, with sudden excitement, "I don't care

what you say to me. You have a way of giving things a turn that

makes it a pleasure to be shut up by you; and if I were a gentleman,

as I ought to be, instead of a poor devil of a professional pug, I

would--" He recollected himself, and turned quite pale. There was a

pause.

"Let me remind you," said Lydia, composedly, though she too had

changed color at the beginning of his outburst, "that we are both

wanted elsewhere at present; I by Miss Goff, and you by your

servant, who has been hovering about us and looking at you anxiously

for some minutes."

Cashel turned fiercely, and saw Mellish standing a little way off,

sulkily watching him. Lydia took the opportunity, and left the

place. As she retreated she could hear that they were at high words

together; but she could not distinguish what they were saying.

Fortunately so; for their language was villainous.