But it seems rather strange you must needs come out here in
secret to see such a very intimate acquaintance as I am, considering as
you're the mistress of that great castle up yonder. I must say it seems
uncommon hard a man can't pay a visit to his own--"
"Hush!" cried Lady Eversleigh. "Do not call me by _that_ name, if you
do not wish to inspire me with a deeper loathing than that which I
already feel for you."
"Well, I'm blest!" muttered Mr. Milsom; "that's uncommon civil language
from a young woman to--"
Honoria stopped him by a sudden gesture.
"I suppose you expect to profit by this interview?" she said.
"That I most decidedly do expect," answered the tramp.
"In that case, you will carefully avoid all mention of the past, for
otherwise you will get nothing from me."
The man responded at first only with a sulky growl. Then, after a brief
pause, he muttered--
"I don't want to talk about the past any more than you do, my fine,
proud madam. If it isn't a pleasant time for you to remember, it isn't
a pleasant time for me to remember. It's all very well for a young
woman who has her victuals found for her to give herself airs about the
manner other people find _their_ victuals; but a man must live somehow
or other. If he can't get his living in a pleasant way, he must get it
in an unpleasant way."
After this there was a silence which lasted for some minutes.
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