‘Sho, if you wish it, child,’ he said lightly, taking out his snuff-box.  ‘And to be sure there is time enough.  But between us two, sweet—­’

‘There is nothing between us!’ she cried, impetuously snatching at the word.  ’That is what I wanted to tell you.  I made a mistake when I said that there should be.  I was mad; I was wicked, if you like.  Do you hear me, my lord?’ she continued passionately.  ’It was a mistake.  I did not know what I was doing.  And, now I do understand, I take it back.’

Lord Almeric gasped.  He heard the words, but the meaning seemed incredible, inconceivable; the misfortune, if he heard aright, was too terrible; the humiliation too overwhelming!  He had brought listeners—­and for this!  ‘Understand?’ he cried, looking at her in a confused, chap-fallen way.  ’Hang me if I do understand!  You don’t mean to say—­Oh, it is impossible, stuff me! it is.  You don’t mean that—­that you’ll not have me?  After all that has come and gone, ma’am?’

She shook her head; pitying him, blaming herself, for the plight in which she had placed him.  ‘I sent for you, my lord,’ she said humbly, ’that I might tell you at once.  I could not rest until I had told you.  I did what I could.  And, believe me, I am very, very sorry.’

‘But do you mean—­that you—­you jilt me?’ he cried, still fighting off the dreadful truth.

‘Not jilt!’ she said, shivering.

‘That you won’t have me?’

She nodded.

‘After—­after saying you would?’ he wailed.

‘I cannot,’ she answered.  Then, ‘Cannot you understand?’ she cried, her face scarlet.  ‘I did not know until—­until you went to kiss me.’

‘But—­oh, I say—­but you love me?’ he protested.

‘No, my lord,’ she said firmly.  ’No.  And there, you must do me the justice to acknowledge that I never said I did.’

He dashed his hat on the floor:  he was almost weeping.  ‘Oh, damme!’ he cried, ’a woman should not—­should not treat a man like this.  It’s low.  It’s cruel!  It’s—­’

A knock on the door stopped him.  Recollection of the listeners, whom he had momentarily forgotten, revived, and overwhelmed him.  With an oath he sprang to shut the door, but before he could intervene Mr. Pomeroy appeared smiling on the threshold; and behind him the reluctant tutor.

Lord Almeric swore, and Julia, affronted by the presence of strangers at such a time, drew back, frowning.  But Bully Pomeroy would see nothing.  ‘A thousand pardons if I intrude,’ he said, bowing this way and that, that he might hide a lurking grin.  ’But his lordship was good enough to say a while ago, that he would present us to the lady who had consented to make him happy.  We little thought last night, ma’am, that so much beauty and so much goodness were reserved for one of us.’

Lord Almeric looked ready to cry.  Julia, darkly red, was certain that they had overheard; she stood glaring at the intruders, her foot tapping the floor.  No one answered, and Mr. Pomeroy, after looking from one to the other in assumed surprise, pretended to hit on the reason.  ’Oh, I see; I spoil sport!’ he cried with coarse joviality.  ’Curse me if I meant to!  I fear we have come mal a propos, my lord, and the sooner we are gone the better.