‘You have ruined me among you,’ he said, his tone dull and thick, like that of a man in drink.  ’If I had seen her last night, there is no knowing but what she would have had me.  She would have jumped at it.  You tell me why not!  But she is different this morning.  There is a change in her.  Gad, my lady,’ with a bitter laugh, ’she is as good a lady as you, and better!  And I’d have used her gently.  Now I shall carry her off.  And if she crosses me I will wring her handsome neck!’

It is noticeable that he did not adduce any reason why the night had changed her.  Only he had got it firmly into his head that, but for the delay they had caused, all would be well.  Nothing could move him from this.

‘Now I shall run away with her,’ he repeated.

‘She won’t go with you,’ my lady cried with scorn.

‘I sha’n’t ask her,’ he answered.  ’When there is no choice she will come to it.  I tell you I shall carry her off.  And if I am taken and hanged for it, I’ll be hanged at Papworth—­before your window.’

‘You poor simpleton!’ she said.  ‘Go home to your father.’

‘All right, my lady,’ he answered, without lifting his eyes from the carpet.  ’Now you know.  It will be your doing.  I shall force her off, and if I am taken and hanged I will be hanged at Papworth.  You took fine pains last night, but I’ll take pains to-day.  If I don’t have her I shall never have a wife.  But I will have her.’

‘Fools cry for the moon,’ said my lady.  ’Any way, get out of my room.  You are a fine talker, but I warrant you will take care of your neck.’

‘I shall carry her off and marry her,’ he repeated, his chin sunk on his breast, his hand rattling the money in his pocket.

‘It is a distance to Gretna,’ she answered.  ’You’ll be nearer it outside my door, my lad.  So be stepping, will you?  And if you take my advice, you will go to my lord.’

‘All right; you know,’ he said sullenly.  ’For that sneak there, if he comes in my way, I’ll break every bone in his body.  Good-day, my lady.  When I see you again I will have Miss with me.’

‘Like enough; but not Madam,’ she retorted.  ’You are not such a fool as that comes to.  And there is the Act besides!’

That was her parting shot; for all the feeling she had shown, from the opening to the close of the interview, she might have been his worst enemy.  Yet after a fashion, and as a part of herself, she did love him; which was proved by her first words after the door had closed upon him.

‘Lord!’ she said uneasily.  ’I hope he will play no Ferrers tricks, and disgrace us all.  He is a black desperate fellow, is Dunborough, when he is roused.’

The crestfallen tutor could not in a moment recover himself; but he managed to say that he did not think Mr. Dunborough suspected Sir George; and that even if he did, the men had fought once, in which case there was less risk of a second encounter.