"I chanced upon her at the Middle Fort one evening--down by the river.

And what are our wenches coming to," he exclaimed impatiently, "that a kiss on a summer's night should mean to them more than a kiss on a night in summer!" "She is a laundress, is she not ?" "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." "Now, Loskiel," he began, plainly vexed, "I am not cruel by nature, and you know it well enough.