“How do I know? A tailoress, too, I believe, for she has patched and mended for me; and she madded me because she would take no pay. There are times,” he added, “when sentiment is inconvenient — — ”

“Poor thing,” I said.

“My God, why? When I slipped my arm around her she put up her face to be kissed. It was give and take, and no harm done — and the moon a-laughing at us both. And why the devil she should look at me reproachfully is more than I can comprehend.”

“It seems a cruel business,” said I.

“Cruel!”

“Aye — to awake a heart and pass your way a-whistling.”