''Yet to be achieved''—I almost laugh—''by a marriage?''
''To be achieved by a ceremony of marriage, performed under certain unusual conditions.'' Again he smooths his hair, and swallows; and I see at last that he is nervous—more nervous than I. He leans closer. He says, ''I suppose you''re not squeamish, or soft about the heart, as another girl might be? I suppose your maid is really sleeping, and not listening at the door?''
I think of Agnes, of Agnes''s bruises; but say nothing, only watch him. He passes his hand across his mouth.$$本$$作$$品$$由$$思$$兔$$網$$提$$供$$線$$上$$閱$$讀$$
''God help me, Miss Lilly, if I have misjudged you!'' he says. ''Now, listen.''
This is his plan. He means to bring a girl to Briar, from London, and install her as my maid. He means to use her, then cheat her. He says he has a girl in mind, a girl of my years and colouring. A sort of thief—not over-scrupulous, not too clever in her ways, he says; he thinks he will secure her with the promise of some slight share in the fortune—''Say, two or three thousand. I don''t believe she''ll have the ambition to ask for more. Her set are a small set, as crooks go; though, like crooks everywhere, think themselves grander.'' He shrugs. The sum means nothing, after all: for he will agree to whatever she asks for; and she will not see a shilling of it. She will