“Dunnot be so mad,” she pleaded, laying her hand upon his arm.  “I didn’t think to vex ye.  I nobbut looked about for the best I could find.  They flowers ye didn’t seem to set mich store by, and I could on’y get a twothree now and again when theer was nobry about.”

He shook her off with an angry laugh.  “So the flowers were stolen, too!  Now, look you, Sally, I’m goin’ to have an end o’ this.  You may pick up yon handkerchief and take yourself off.  I’ll have no more to say to you after this.  I’ll have nothing to say to a thief.  Don’t you ever think to come botherin’ me again, for I’ll have no more to do wi’ you.”

She stood looking at him stupidly for a minute or two, and then, to his great annoyance and discomfiture, flung her arms round his neck, sobbing out inarticulate words of entreaty and remonstrance.  She didn’t think to vex him, she didn’t think it was any harm.

He shook her off roughly and impatiently.  Sally had evidently no sense of decency or even decorum.  “Get out of my sight,” he cried fiercely, “or if it comes to that I can go myself.  I’ve done with you, I tell you—­ye needn’t come after me no more.”

She had been looking at him piteously, the big tears standing in those strange blue eyes of hers, and on her tanned cheeks; but now a curious sullen expression came over her face.  Stooping and picking up the handkerchief, she tore at it fiercely, first with her hands and subsequently with her teeth.  A kind of angry curiosity caused John to delay his departure.

“You’ve no right to make away with Mr. Lambert’s handkerchief,” he cried.  “If I did what was right I’d give notice to the police.”

“Well, why dunnot ye?” she retorted with a fierceness which startled him.  “Ye can if ye’ve a mind.”

And she walked away slowly, still plucking at the handkerchief.

* * * * *

A year later, on just such another Sunday afternoon, John stood on the same spot with a woman by his side—­the woman was Jinny, and Jinny was his wife.  Many things had happened since John had parted in wrath and bitterness from the girl whom he had once called “Golden Sally.”  His demeanour towards his aunt on the momentous morning alluded to had led to a violent quarrel with her and her husband, which had had unexpected results, for Jinny had taken his part—­Jinny who was the idol of her parents and the pivot on which the whole establishment turned.  John’s whilom indifference had led first to pique on Jinny’s part and then to interest.  John, perturbed of spirit and sore of heart, had been grateful for her favour.  The attachment which poor Sally had for a time diverted was soon re-established, and before six months had passed the young couple were courting in due form.