and
unpleasant for me. I shall have to be on my P's and Q's, Mattie;
and I doubt if I am acting judiciously for myself in bringing you
into the house now. However, it is only for an hour, and the maid
Julia is out, and father is at the Dye House, and no one was in
the road; so I thought I might risk it. But, of course, you can't
remain. You must go."

"I must go! What, now?"

"I won't hurry you for another ten minutes, but under the
circumstances I cannot allow you to remain. There is more behind,
Matabel. I have got engaged to Polly Colpus!"

"Engaged--to Polly Colpus?"

"Yes. You see she is the only child of James Colpus, and will have
his land, which adjoins ours, and several thousand pounds as well.
Her mother left her something, and her father has been a saving
man; so I could not do better for myself. I have got tired of
teaching imbeciles to draw and daub. You see, I knew nothing about
a farm, but father will manage that, and when he is too infirm and
old, then Mr. Colpus will work it along with his own, and save me
the trouble. Polly is clever and manages very well, and I can trust
her to govern the Ship and make money out of that. So my idea is to
be here when I like, and when tired of being in the country, to go
to London and sell my pictures, or amuse myself. With the farm and
the inn I shall be free to do that without the worry of giving
lessons. So you understand that not only must I avoid any scandal
among the neighbors by harboring you here, but I must not make
Polly Colpus jealous; and she might become that, and break off
the engagement were you taken into the house. She is a good girl,
and amiable, but might become suspicious. There are so many
busybodies in a little place, and the smaller the place is the
more meddlesome people are. It would not do for my engagement to
be broken through any such an injudicious act on my part, and I
should never forgive myself for having given occasion for the
rupture. Consequently, as is plain as a pike-staff, we cannot
possibly take you into the Ship. Not even for to-night. As for
receiving you as a servant here, that is out of the question. There
is really no place for you but the Punch-Bowl."

"I will not go back to the Punch-Bowl," said Mehetabel, her heart
sinking.

"That is unreasonable. It is your natural home."

"I will not go back. I said so when I ran away. Nothing will induce
me to return."

"Then I wash my hands of all concerning you," said Iv