as the very shaggiest bear I have ever seen at the Zoo--not even a nice
white Polar bear, but one of those nondescript, snuff-coloured kinds
that are all ragged ends from top to toe. That a man with such a rough
exterior could be capable of such sickening sentimentality as Elizabeth
had just described quite nauseated me. It made me dislike him more, if
possible, than I had done before.

'Remember, Elizabeth,' I said, looking at her steadily, 'you must not
repeat a word of this to any one. Mr. Rawlings must never know that he
has been discovered in this----'

'Well, 'e knows that _I_ know,' she interrupted.

I stared. 'What do you mean?'

'You see, me bein' in the room when 'e was a-kissin' of your fotograft,
'e looks up an' sees me afore I could get away, quiet, like. "Good
lor', Elizabeth," 'e breaks out, "you don't mean to tell me that you
sor everything, that you 'eard my 'eart strings burstin' in a manner of
speakin'."

'"I'm afraid I did, sir," ses I, "I was just comin' in to dust an' your
sighs bein' rather loud, I couldn't 'elp overhearing."

'"Listen," 'e ses, goin' ashy pale, "you must never tell 'er. I will
win 'er in my own way," 'e ses. "In the meantime, 'ere is ten
shillings, my good girl. Will you put in a word for me with Miss
Worryington from time to time? She may not like me just yet, but I'll
make 'er mine or blow my brains out."