manner to me
the other evening,' I explained, 'that I am now convinced she has
suddenly grown to hate me.'

'If you're not as blind as a bat!' commented Elizabeth. 'Can't you see
she's doin' that to 'ide 'er feelings--so that you'll never guess 'ow
'er 'eart is torn an' bleedin' like.'

'Dear me, Elizabeth, do you mean this?' I asked in the utmost concern.

'Sure of it. As a matter o' fact she's more gone on you than ever.
She's got to not eatin' now, so you can guess 'ow bad she is.'

I wiped the gathering moisture from my brow. 'Elizabeth, this is
terrible--it must be stopped. I must discover some way to make Miss
Warrington actually dislike me. In this I hope for your assistance.
You know Miss Warrington much better than I do. You are, no doubt,
acquainted with her likes and prejudices?'

'Not 'arf, I aint,' she said.

Taking this as meaning an affirmative, I continued, 'Perhaps you are
able to tell me what it is about me that attracts her. I have a
plan--I shall do exactly the opposite of what she desires of me.'

'To set her agen you, like,' remarked Elizabeth.

'Exactly.'

She stood for a few moments regarding me with her head on one side.
Had you known her to be capable of it you might almost have imagined
that she was thinking. Certainly she breathed much harder than usual.
At last, to my profound astonishment, she suddenly sat down, threw her
apron over her face and burst into unrestrained laughter.

'Compose yourself, my good girl,' I said, anxious lest the family
should overhear, 'what is the matter?'

'I got an idea,' she said as soon as she had recovered. 'It aint 'arf
a bad one. You say you want to know wot it is Miss Marryun likes about
you?'

'I do, indeed,' I said eagerly.

'Well, I can tell you that right away. It's your towsled look, so to
speak. Only the other day she ses to me, she ses, "Wot I like about
Mr. Roarings is the rough kind o' suits 'e wears, them baggy trousis,
an' also 'is great clompin' boots. I like the free an' easy way 'e
throws 'is feet up to the ledge of the mantelpiece," she ses, "an' the
way 'e 'as of wearin' 'is 'air 'anging all about 'is ears,
shaggy-like."'

'Incredible!' I exclaimed.

'An' only yesterday she stood on this very spot where you are now and
ses to me, thoughtful like: "Don't you love a man with a heavy beard
an' moustarch--like Mr. Roarings, f'r instance?" she ses.'

'"Well, miss, since you put the question to me," I ses plain