to believe, with real tenderness; I pray you
to consider me from henceforth as the most devoted of your friends."

"Well, well," she said, "here comes your devoted friend the drover. I'm
thinking he will be eager for the road; and I will not be easy myself
till I see you well off the premises, and the dishes washed, before my
servant-woman wakes. Praise God, we have gotten one that is a treasure
at the sleeping!"

The morning was already beginning to be blue in the trees of the garden,
and to put to shame the candle by which I had breakfasted. The lady rose
from table, and I had no choice but to follow her example. All the time
I was beating my brains for any means by which I should be able to get a
word apart with Flora, or find the time to write her a billet. The
windows had been opened while I breakfasted, I suppose to ventilate the
room from any traces of my passage there; and, Master Ronald appearing
on the front lawn, my ogre leaned forth to address him.

"Ronald," she said, "wasn't that Sim that went by the wall?"

I snatched my advantage. Right at her back there was pen, ink, and paper
laid out. I wrote: "I love you"; and before I had time to write more, or
so much as to blot what I had written, I was again under the guns of the
gold eye-glasses.

"It's time," she began; and then, as she observed my occupation, "Umph!"
she broke off. "Ye have something to write?" she demanded.

"Some notes, madam," said I, bowing with alacrity.

"Notes," she said; "or a note?"

"There is doubtless some _finesse_ of the English language that I do not
comprehend," said I.

"I'll contrive, however, to make my meaning very plain to ye, Mosha le
Viscount," she continued. "I suppose you desire to be considered a
gentleman?"

"Can you doubt it, madam?" said I.

"I doubt very much, at least, whether you go the right way about it,"
she said. "You have come here to me, I cannot very well say how; I think
you will admit you owe me some thanks, if it was only for the breakfast
I made ye. But what are you to me? A waif young man, not so far to seek
for looks and manners, with some English notes in your pocket and a
price upon your head. I am a lady; I have been your hostess, with
however little will; and I desire that this random acquaintance of yours
with my family will cease and determine."

I believe I must have coloured. "Madam," said I, "the notes are of no
importance; and your least pleasure ought certainly to be my law.