thou hadst flown
into a temper and bidden me begone than sat mum all the while."
Windybank jumped up from the garden seat and began to pace to and fro,
to the peril of Dorothy's flower-beds.

"But why should I argue or contradict or fly into a passion if thou
dost tell me my eyes are blue? 'Tis the truth." Dorothy opened them
wider, and made them look more innocent and beautiful than ever.

"Was that all I said for the space of an hour?" was the sullen
rejoinder.

"No," said the cool little maiden, "'twas not; but thou didst offer no
ground for argument. I heard a catalogue of virtues recited, and was
bidden to believe that mine own small person gave lodging and
nourishment to them all. Well, in good faith, sir, 'tis my earnest
hope that some are guests in my heart, and I would fain believe that I
give harbourage to all the noble train. Thou didst speak at some
length of thyself, thy hopes and aspirations, they were such as would
become thy youth and station: why should I quarrel with thee concerning
them? Again, I had a list of thy possessions, the tale of gold in thy
coffers. Should I give thee the lie over thy arithmetic? Thy uncle is
rich, and thou art his heir. Shall I lose my temper because of John
Windybank's money?"

The youth turned fiercely upon the maiden and gripped
her by the shoulders so that she winced with the pain.
"I--told--thee--that--I--loved--thee!" he said with deliberate
emphasis. "What hast thou to say to that?"

"That a maid is honoured by the affection of any good man."

"Dost thou love me?"

"No," said Dorothy, rising also and removing his hands.

Windybank's eyes were blue like those he confronted, but they were as
shifty as the maiden's were steady, and whilst the blue of hers
deepened with anger, his assumed a greenish tint that was both uncomely
and cruel. For a moment he stared into the azure deeps before him,
trying to fathom them. He failed.

"Would 'No' have been Jack Morgan's answer?" he asked.

Dorothy's eyes flashed, but her lips remained closed. She showed no
signs of anything save anger. The baffled lover lost his head, and
with it went his common sense and veneer of gentlemanly breeding.

"Silence is answer enough," he snarled. "Morgan's black eyes and
swarthy face have bewitched thee as thou hast bewitched me. Well, take
thy choice between us. He hath the start of me in inches, but a
moon-calf would hardly benefit by bargaining wits with him--a gr