But Donal did not wait for him to
speak.

"Don't imagine me, my lord," he said, "presuming on the fact that I had
the good fortune to carry you home: that I should have done for the
stable-boy in similar plight. But as I interfered for you then, I have
to interfere for Eppie now."

"Damn your insolence! Do you think because you are going to be a
parson, you may make a congregation of me!"

"I have not the slightest intention of being a parson," returned Donal
quietly, "but I do hope to be an honest man, and your lordship is in
great danger of ceasing to be one!"

"Get out of my room," cried Forgue.

Donal took a seat opposite him.

"If you do not, I will!" said the young lord, and rose.

But ere he reached the door, Donal was standing with his back against
it. He locked it, and took out the key. The youth glared at him,
unable to speak for fury, then turned, caught up a chair, and rushed at
him. One twist of Donal's ploughman-hand wrenched it from him. He
threw it over his head upon the bed, and stood motionless and silent,
waiting till his rage should subside. In a few moments his eye began
to quail, and he went back to his seat.

"Now, my lord," said Donal, following his example and sitting down,
"will you hear me?"

"I'll be damned if I do!" he answered, flaring up again at the first
sound of Donal's voice.

"I'm afraid you'll be damned if you don't," returned Donal.

His lordship took the undignified expedient of thrusting his fingers in
his ears. Donal sat quiet until he removed them. But the moment he
began to speak he thrust them in again. Donal rose, and seizing one of
his hands by the wrist, said,

"Be careful, my lord; if you drive me to extremity, I will speak so
that the house shall hear me; if that will not do, I go straight to
your father."

"You are a spy and a sneak!"

"A man who behaves like you, should have no terms held with him."

The youth broke out in a fresh passion. Donal sat waiting till the
futile outburst should be over. It was presently exhausted, the rage
seeming to go out for want of fuel. Nor did he again stop his ears
against the truth he saw he was doomed to hear.

"I am come," said Donal, "to ask your lordship whether the course you
are pursuing is not a dishonourable one."

"I know what I am about."

"So much the worse--but I doubt it. For your mother's sake, if for no
other, you should scorn to behave to a woman as you are doing now."

"What do