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Rh Ann with a muttered oath, raised the trap-door, and flung it back upon the settle.

"Out with you, then!" cried she, defiantly, as she planted herself a foot or so away from the chasm thus made, and stared down upon him sullenly. "Out with you, and off with you! And may the devil catch your heels!"

Thus adjured, Tregenna proceeded to pile up the bales of silk in order to reach the level of the kitchen floor. Joan, who was very white, and who had never uttered a sound since hearing his voice, came forward to help him.

As she held out her firm white hand, he grasped it in his with a warm, strong pressure, which brought the red blood back to her face. The next moment they were standing side by side, and face to face with Ann, whose gray eyes flashed in diabolical anger as she looked at them.

Only for a moment. Recovering herself quickly, so that they might almost have fancied that the evil expression they had seen on her features was the effect of fancy only, she closed the trap-door, and threw herself on the nearest settle, with a loud burst of laughter.