The Star-Gazers Part 38

"Curse him! I'll kill him," he snarled.

"What good would that do?"

"Eh?"

"If I were a man like you, do you know how I would act?"

"No," he said; "how could I?" and his lips parted, to show his white teeth in a peculiar laugh, before he gave a quick look to right and left, to satisfy himself that they were not seen.

"I'd have revenge."

"How? With a gun?"

"And be hung for murder. No!"

She leaned towards him, and she too gave a furtive look round, as, with her face flushed strangely, she whispered a few words to him--words that he listened to with his eyes half-closed, and then he turned upon her quickly.

"Why? To bring him back to you?" he said, with a mocking laugh. "You love him?"

"I hate him," she said slowly.

"Yes," he said; "and you hate Judy Hayle, too, like the gipsy women hate sometimes. Why don't you stop it?"

"Because I am helpless," she said bitterly. "Loose my arm. I knew it: you are a coward."

"Am I?" he said, with an ugly smile. "Is this a trap?"

"If you think so, let it be," she said contemptuously; and she tried again to shake her arm free, but the grasp upon it tightened.

"Perhaps I am a coward," he said; "but I will. He wouldn't marry her then, and it would be serving him out. Not for nothing, though," he added, with a laugh. "What will you give me?"

"Pah!" she said contemptuously; "how much do you want?"

He laughed and leaned forward, gazing full in her face.

"Perhaps I shall get into trouble again for it," he said, "and be shut up for a year--perhaps for more. It's to play your game as well as mine, and I must be paid well."

"Well, I will pay you," she said. "Tell me what you want."

"A kiss," he said; and before she could realise what he had said, his left arm was about her waist, and he held her tightly to him. "A kiss from a lady who is handsomer than Judy Hayle," he whispered.

"How dare you!" she cried, in a low voice.

"No," he said, laughing, "you won't call for help. Come, it isn't much to give me, and I swear I will."

Marjorie gazed at him wildly, as she realised her position; there, alone, in this man's power, and no one at hand to defend her. Then, utterly careless of herself, as she thought of the bitter revenge she had planned, she held back her face, and, with a faint laugh and her voice trembling, she said,--

"No, I will not call for help. There is no need. Keep your word and I will pay you--as you wish."

The blood crimsoned her cheeks as she spoke.

"No," he said, with a laugh; "you shall pay me now," and the next moment his arms were fast round her, and his lips pressed to hers.

Marjorie started away, angry and indignant, but her furious jealousy made her diplomatise, and she stood smiling at the good-looking, gipsy-like ne'er-do-weel, and said laughingly,--

"That was not fair; I promised you that as a reward, and now you have cheated me and will not keep your word."

"Yes, I will," he cried, as he seized her again eagerly; but she kept him back. "I'll do anything you ask me. Curse Judith Hayle! She isn't half so beautiful as you."

Madge's heart beat heavily, for admiration was pleasant, even from this low-cla.s.s scoundrel. His words were genuine, as she could see from his eager gaze, the play of his features, and the earnestness in his voice.

"I've made a slave," she said to herself, forgetting for a moment the cost, "and he'll do everything I bid him."

"Don't talk nonsense," she said, playfully. "You do not suppose I believe what you say."

"What!" he cried, in a low, excited whisper, "not believe me. Here, tell me anything else to do. Why, I'd kill anyone if you'll look at me like that."

"I do not want you to kill anyone, and do not want you even to look or speak to me again if you are so rude as that. You forget that I am a lady."

"No, I don't," he cried, as he feasted on her with his eyes. "You're lovely. I never saw a girl so beautiful as you are before."

He tried to catch her in his embrace again, but she waved him off.

"There," she said coldly, "that will do. I see I must ask someone else to do what I want."

"No, no, don't," he whispered. "I didn't mean to make you cross. I didn't want to offend you, but when you looked at me like you did, with your shiny eyes, I couldn't help myself. I was obliged."

"Silence! How dare you," she cried indignantly, as, with her heart throbbing with delight, she felt how very strong a hold she was getting upon Caleb's will. "You forget yourself, sir."

"No, I don't; its only because--because--you're so handsome. There, be cross with me if you like. I couldn't help it."

"And now I suppose you will go and boast in the village taproom that you met the captain's cousin, and insulted her out in the wood."

"Do you think I'm a fool, miss?" he said sharply. "Do you think I'd ever go and tell on a girl? Why, I shouldn't tell on a common servant or a farmer's la.s.s, let alone on a handsome lady like you."

"I don't believe you," she said, half turning away.

"Yes, do, miss, please do," he cried earnestly, "you may trust me. I'd sooner go and hang myself than tell anybody--there!"

She turned her eyes upon him, and her feeling of delight increased as she realised the truth of all that Caleb said. Then, as he looked up at her now, with the appealing, beseeching aspect of a dog in his countenance, she made a pretence of hesitating.

"No," she said. "I'm afraid I cannot trust you."

"Yes, do, miss, do."

"If I do you will insult me again."

"I didn't know it was insulting of you to love you," he said sullenly.