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Rh "A very fair explanation, to be sure!" said Tregenna, dryly. "But 'twas well I had the luck to meet with a woman more womanly, to counteract the effects of your solicitude on my account."

"You mean Miss Joan," said Ann, in a very quiet tone, as she played with the corner of her apron, keeping her eyes fixed upon it all the time.

"Whom should I mean but that most sweet woman?" cried Tregenna, with the more enthusiasm that Ann was evidently displeased by his praise of the lady. "Had it not been for her goodness, I should most surely have been murdered last night, either by you or some one of your villainous confederates."

"Nay, nay, sir, you would not," returned Ann, earnestly. "They would not have dared, I say, not one of them, to do a hurt to one in whom—in whom"—her voice faltered a little, and she looked down, bending her head, so that he could not see her face—"in whom I had an interest!"

"An interest! Ay, truly, an interest so strong that, at first sight of me, you did show it at once by presenting a pistol at my head!"