Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/78

68 smoke that darkened my eyes and bewildered my brain. I could not see, I could not think. I did not know, till all was over, what I had done, George! I know I am rough and violent, when these rages come over me; I am not to be trifled with."

"I hope they never may come over you when you have to do with me," said De Witt sulkily. "I hope not, George. Do not trifle with me, do not provoke me. I have the gipsy in me, but under control. All at once the old nature bursts loose, and then I do I know not what. I cannot waste my energy in words like some, and I cannot contend with such a girl as that with the tongue." "What will folks say of this?" "I do not care. They may talk. But now, George, let me warn you. That girl has been trifling with you, and you have been too blind and foolish to see her game and keep her at arm's length." "You are jealous because I speak to another girl besides you."

"No, I am not. I am not one to harbour jealousy. Whom I trust I trust with my whole heart. Whom I believe I believe with my entire soul. I know you too well to be jealous. I know as well that you could not be false to me in thought or in act as I know my truth to you. I cannot doubt you, for had I thought it possible that you would give me occasion to doubt, I could not have loved you."

"Sheer off!" exclaimed George, looking over his shoulder. "Here comes the old woman."

The old woman appeared, scrambhng on deck, her cap-frills bristling about her ears, like the feathers of an angry white cockatoo. " What is all this? By jaggers! where is Phœbe Musset? What have you done with her? Where have you put her? What were those screams about?"

"Sheer off while you may," whispered De Witt; "the old woman is not to be faced when wexed no more than a hurricane. Strike sail, and run before the wind." "What have you done with the young woman? Where is she? Produce the corpse. I heard her as she shruck out."