"
"Ef by mam'selle ye mean my Rosey," said Nott, quietly laying his
powerful hands on De Ferrieres' shoulders, and slowly pinning him down
again upon his chair, "ye're about right, though she ain't mam'selle
yet. Ez I was sayin', I might hev killed you off-hand ef I hed thought
it would hev been a good thing for Rosey."
"For, her? Ah, well! Look, I am ready," interrupted De Ferrieres, again
springing to his feet, and throwing open his coat with both hands.
"See! here at my heart--fire!"
"Ez I was sayin'," continued Nott, once more pressing the excited man
down in his chair, "I might hev wiped ye out--and mebbee ye wouldn't
hev keered--or _you_ might hev wiped _me_ out, and I mout hev said.
'Thank'ee,' but I reckon this ain't a case for what's comfable for you
and me. It's what's good for _Rosey_. And the thing to kalkilate is,
what's to be done."
His small round eyes for the first time rested on De Ferrieres' face,
and were quickly withdrawn. It was evident that this abstracted look,
which had fascinated his lodger, was merely a resolute avoidance of De
Ferrieres' glance, and it became apparent later that this avoidance was
due to a ludicrous appreciation of De Ferrieres' attractions.
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