"You dared me to it!" he retorted. "It isn't friendly of you, I must say, Miss Parkinson, to set there enjoying of it—it's bad taste!" "Well, then, I'm very sorry, Mr. Tweddle; I won't[Pg 33] laugh any more; but, for goodness' sake, take me back to the Hall now." [Pg 33] "It's coming!" he said; "I'm working it over the joint now—it's coming quite easily." "But I can't wait here while it comes," she said. "Do you want me to go back alone? You're not very polite to me this evening, I must say." "What am I to do?" he said distractedly. "This ring is my engagement ring; it's valuable. I can't go away without it!" "The statue won't run away—you can come back again, by-and-by. You don't expect me to spend the rest of the evening out here? I never thought you could be rude to a lady, Mr. Tweddle." "No more I can," he said. "Your wishes, Miss Ada, are equivocal to commands; allow me the honour of reconducting you to the Baronial Hall." He offered his arm in his best manner; she took it, and together they passed out of the enclosure, leaving the statue in undisturbed possession of the ring.[Pg 36][Pg 35][Pg 34] [Pg 36] [Pg 35] [Pg 34] PLEASURE IN PURSUIT II. "And you, great sculptor, so you gave A score of years to Art, her slave, And that's your Venus, whence we turn To yonder girl——" "And you, great sculptor, so you gave A score of years to Art, her slave, And that's your Venus, whence we turn
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