animatedly, and Dunn took the
opportunity to busy himself with some gardening work not far away, so
that he could watch their behaviour.

He told himself it was necessary he should know in what relation they
stood to each other, and as he heard them chatting and laughing together
with great apparent friendliness and enjoyment, he remembered with
considerable satisfaction how he had already broken one rib of Clive's,
and he wished very much for an opportunity to break another.

For, without knowing why, he was beginning to conceive an intense
dislike for Clive; and, also, it did not seem to him quite good taste
for Ella to sit and chat and laugh with him so readily.

"But we were told," he caught a stray remark of Ella's, "that it was a
gang of at least a dozen that attacked you."

"No," answered Clive reluctantly. "No, I think there was only one. But
he had a grip like a bear."

"He must have been very strong," remarked Ella thoughtfully.

"I would give fifty pounds to meet him again, and have it out in the
light, when one could see what one was doing," declared Clive with great
vigour.

"Oh, you would, would you?" muttered Dunn to himself. "Well, one of
these days I may claim that fifty."

He looked round at Clive as he thought this, and Clive noticed him, and
said:

"Is that a new man you've got there Miss Cayley? Doesn't he rather want
a shave? Where on earth did Mr. Dawson pick him up?"

"Oh, he came here with the very best testimonials, and father engaged
him on the spot," answered Ella, touching her wrists thoughtfully. "He
certainly is not very handsome, but then that doesn't matter, does it?"

She spoke more loudly than usual, and Dunn was certain she did so
in order that he might hear what she said. So he had no scruple in
lingering on pretence of being busy with a rose bush, and heard Clive
say:

"Well, if he were one of my chaps, I should tell him to put the
lawn-mower over his own face."

Ella laughed amusedly.

"Oh, what an idea, Mr. Clive," she cried, and Dunn thought to himself:

"Yes, one day I shall very certainly claim that fifty pounds."

CHAPTER XII. AN AVOWAL

When Clive had gone that afternoon, Ella, who had accompanied him as far
as the gate, and had from thence waved him a farewell, came back to the
spot where Dunn was working.

She stood still, watching him, and he looked up at her and then went
on with his work without speaking, for now, as always, the appalling
t