d still a bachelor.

He had rounded shoulders and a short neck; this made him thrust his
head forward in a peering manner, like a beast of prey watching for
a victim. His eyes were keen and restless. His hair was short-cut,
and his ears projected from the sides of his head like those of a
bat. Otherwise he was not a bad-looking man. His features were
good, but his expression was unpleasant. The thin lip was curled
contemptuously; and he had a trick of thrusting forth his sharp
tongue to wet his lips before making a spiteful remark.

He was a frequent visitor at the Ship, and indeed his inclination
for liquor was his one weakness.

Of late he had been much oftener at this inn than formerly.
Latterly he had been profuse in his compliments to Mehetabel,
which she had put aside, much as she brushed empty tankards, and
tobacco ash off the table. He was no welcome guest. His bitter
tongue was the occasion of strife, and a brawl was no infrequent
result of the appearance of the Broom-Squire in the public house.
Sometimes he himself became the object of attack, but usually he
succeeded in setting others by the ears and in himself escaping
unmolested. But on one of the former occasions he had lost two
front teeth, and through the gap thus formed he was wont to thrust
his tongue.

"I am glad to have caught you," said the Broom-Squire; "and caught
you alone--it is hard to find you so--as it's hard to find a
treacle cask without flies round it."

"What have you to say?"

"You have always slipped out of my way when I thought I had you."

"I did not know that you had a fancy to catch me alone." She made
as if to proceed on her course.

"Stand still," said he imperiously. "It must come out. Do not
look at me with that keep-your-distance air. I mean no incivility.
I care a deal more for you than for any one else."

"That is not saying much."

"I care for you alone in all the world."

"Except yourself."

"Of course."

He breathed as though relieved of a burden.

"Look here, Mehetabel, I've not been a marrying man. Wife and
family cost too much. I've been saving and not spending. But this
can't go on forever. All good things come to an end some time. It
has come to this, I must have a woman to mind the house. My sister
and I have had a tiff. You know her, Sarah Rocliffe. She won't do
as I like, and what I want. So I'll just shut the door in her face
and make a long nose at her, and say, 'Got some one else now.'"

"S