talk of me?" she went
on, as he did not reply. "If I am not a lady, what is that to you?
Oh!" she persisted, in answer to the swift remonstrance on his face,
"I can end your sentence: 'She is quite beautiful, but--quite _low_,
of course.' What right have you to call me either--to speak of me at
all? We were content enough before you came--Peter and Paul and I.
Why cannot you let us alone? I hate you! Yes, I hope there is no
doubt now that I am low--hate you!"

She stamped her foot in passion as two angry tears sparkled in her
eyes.

"Why, Tamsin!" cried Paul's voice at the door, "the Shenachrum not
ready yet? I niver knawed 'ee so long afore."

She turned sharply, caught up the pan, and stooped over the fire
again. But the glow on her cheeks now was hotter than any fire could
bring.

"'Tes rare stuff, sir," said the Twin encouragingly, as Tamsin filled
a steaming glass, and handed it, without a look, to Mr. Fogo.
"Leastways, 'tes thought a deal of i' these parts by them as, wi'out
bein' perlite, es yet reckoned jedges."

Mr. Fogo took the glass and sipped bravely. The stuff was so hot
that tears sprang to his eyes, but he gulped it down, nevertheless.

"An' now, sir," began Peter, who had joined the group, and was
looking on approvingly, "Paul an' me was considerin' in the
back-kitchen, an' agreed that makin' so bold as to ax 'ee, an' hopin'
'twont' be thought over free, you must stay the night, seein' you've
took this cold, an' the night air bein', as es well known, terrable
apt to give 'ee inflammation."

"We'd planned," put in Paul, "to go down wi' the boat to Kit's House
an' fetch up your things, and tell Caleb about et, so's he shudn' be
decomposed. An' Tamsin'll tell 'ee there's a room at your sarvice,
an' reckoned purty--lookin' on to the bee-skeps an' the orchard at
the back," he explained with a meaning glance at Tamsin, who was
silent.

"Why, Tamsin, girl, what's amiss that you don't spake?" asked Peter;
and then his amazement got the better of his tact, as he added in a
stage whisper, "'Tes on'y to change rooms. Paul an' me can aisy
sleep down here afore the fire; an' us on'y offered your room as
bein' more genteel--"

"I assure you," broke in Mr. Fogo, "that I am quite recovered of my
chill, thanks to your kindness, and would rather return--much rather:
though I thank you all the same." He spoke to the Twins, but kept
his eyes on Tamsin.

"No kindness at all," muttered Peter. His f