between her and that region invested her with authority on the
subject. I need scarce say that I drank in every word with greedy
ears, and was become daily more inflamed with desire to voyage
thither.

My cousin Rupert was frequently a third party in our conversations. He
used a tone of familiarity with Marian which I was inclined to resent,
though she took it in good part. But he deeply offended me one day
that we were together by referring openly to what I thought my secret
passion for the girl.

We had been discussing the question of how far it was safe for me to
venture abroad into the streets, and he wound up by saying--

"To speak my mind plainly, Mistress Marian, I think it is high time my
cousin got further out of reach of your fascination. You and he have
been too much together of late; and if I mistake not Master Athelstane
would not object to prolong his captivity for ever on such terms."

"What do you mean?" I cried angrily.

But the girl only laughed.

"Be quiet, sir!" she said. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself for
showing jealousy of a mere boy like this! Why, he is scarce old enough
to notice whether I have brown eyes or black."

This made me still more angry with Rupert.

"Mere boy as I am, I will thank you not to meddle between me and any
lady who may choose to favour me with her goodwill!" I told him.

"I crave your pardon, my venerable cousin," sneered Rupert. "I was not
aware that matters between Mrs. Rising and you had made such progress.
I would offer to go to Saint Nicholas, and bid them put up the banns
next Sunday, if I were not afraid it might bring my worthy uncle over
from Brandon with a whip and a dog-collar."

I sprang to my feet as red as fire, and was as likely to have answered
him with a blow as a word, if Marian had not come between us.

"Sit down, you foolish boy," she said, giving me a look that turned my
wrath into secret exultation. "As for you, Rupert Gurney, I have told
you before that I will not endure your hectoring temper. If you cannot
behave more civilly, there are plenty of other inns in Great Yarmouth,
and you had better betake yourself to one of them."

Rupert now saw he had gone too far, and passed off the thing as a
pleasantry. After that he became as friendly to me as ever; but I
could not so soon get over his ungenerous words, and I think I never
felt quite the same love and admiration for him afterwards.

About this time I overheard a conversation