"
Another pause. He became fidgety; the half smile, half grin which he
almost perpetually wore passed altogether from his face, and he
looked uncomfortable and dangerous. Pauline felt him to be so, and
resolved that, come what might, he should never set foot in the house
again.
"You have such black hair," he observed.
She rose to take away the tea-things.
"I am afraid," said she, "that I must go out; I have one or two
commissions to execute."
He remained seated, and observed that surely she would not go alone.
"Why not?" and having collected the tea-things, she was on the point
of leaving. He then rose, and she bade him good-bye. He held out
his hand, and she took it in hers, but he did not let it go, and
having pulled it upwards with much force, kissed it. He still held
it, and before the astonished Pauline knew what he was doing his arm
was round her waist. At that moment the little front gate swung
back. Nobody was there; but the Reverend Thomas was alarmed, and in
an instant she had freed herself, and had placed the table between
them.
"What do you mean, you Gadarene pig, you scoundrel, by insulting a
stranger in this way?" she cried.
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