Kingston laughed with some bitterness. 'Ay, you have.'
Kingston glanced with his old raillery at the flushed cheeks and flashing eyes. 'I dare not say it, if I had. Yet I wish I could get hold of that fellow Charlie; I might bring him to reason, if I could find him out.'
'He will come when he knows that you are here.'
'Dear old Enderby!' muttered Kingston, as they strolled up the winding woodland path. 'With no home of my own, here I have always found one. It is _our_ home, Deb. Can we leave it? Can we? I never thought it was so dear till now.'
Deborah did not answer. Her breast was heaving tumultuously. He saw that she was weeping silently and bitterly. She sat down on the shrubbery seat, and Kingston walked slowly on. He soon returned, guessing rightly that Mistress Fleming would be proudly herself again.
Deborah and Kingston saw not much more of each other that day till they rode together in the evening. It happened that Mistress Dinnage stood by her father's side and watched them.
'They make a pretty couple,' said old Jordan through his smoke. 'He's more her match than Master Sinclair. 'Twould be a sin and shame to give pretty Lady Deb to _him_. Why, Master Charlie would run him through first!'
'That he would; and so would she, father, bless ye! Ye don't _yet_ know our Lady Deb, if you think such a thought. See him go out through this gate, father, times on time, the old sharp fox! his eyes glowering, as he could murder me. He has caught it _then_; and I have well-nigh laughed in his face. I hate the cunning bad old man, with his tall hectoring air. I wish Master Charlie would horsewhip him soundly.'
Old Jordan chuckled over his pipe, glorying in the spirit of Mistress Dinnage. 'Ay, ay; I wish he would, Meg. Young giant! Many's the time I've hosswhipped he. He'd laugh in my face for my pains now.'
That night the two girls were in their favourite walk, while Sir Vincent and Kingston were indoors.
'I shall owe you a grudge, Mistress Dinnage.'
'For leaving me all day with my cousin Kingston.'
'This is not like you. Can it end but in misery? Oh, the Fates send him soon away from Enderby! Meg, he likes me well--far better than he did formerly; but oh, man-like, he would fain get the better o' my heart by fair fair words.'
