Then, having earned her "wage," as she
believed, she became somewhat cold and shy to Thatcher. Whereat that
gentleman redoubled his attentions, seeing only in her presence a
certain meprise, which concerned her more than himself. The niece of
his enemy meant nothing more to him than an interesting girl,--to
be protected always,--to be feared, never. But even suspicion may be
insidiously placed in noble minds.
Mistress Plodgitt, thus early estopped of matchmaking, of course put the
blame on her own sex, and went over to the stronger side--the man's.
"It's a great pity gals should be so curious," she said, sotto voce, to
Thatcher, when Carmen was in one of her sullen moods. "Yet I s'pose
it's in her blood. Them Spaniards is always revengeful,--like the
Eyetalians."
Thatcher honestly looked his surprise.
"Why, don't you see, she's thinking how all these lands might have been
her uncle's but for you. And instead of trying to be sweet and--" here
she stopped to cough.
"Good God!" said Thatcher in great concern, "I never thought of that.
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