And so you won't give me a kiss of your own free will?
Why, I could take it if I liked; but I'm not sure that I want to take it till you come and offer it to me of your own free will." "That I shall never do," I said.
"I'm not so sure of that," he replied.

"There aren't many ladies in this county wouldn't give me a kiss if I wanted it, much less a little dairymaid like you." I thought at the time that it was his egregious vanity and conceit, but in this I was wrong, as events afterwards proved.

Indeed, it was a very strange thing how women, both gentle and simple, were in many cases attracted by the coarse good looks and insolent, swaggering way of Richard Dawson--an inconceivable thing to me in the case of a lady, although more easily understood in the case of a poor peasant girl like Nora Brady.
His mood had apparently changed, and I was less afraid of him, although my detestation of him had been deepened by his conduct to me.
He still sat on the stile so that I could not pass him; but all the anger had gone out of his face, although the blood still trickled a little from the back of his hand where Dido had planted her teeth.
"Will you let me pass, please ?" said I.
"Presently, my dear." How I hated him for his easy insolence! "I want to hear first what it is you dislike in me." "Everything," I answered.
"Why," he said mockingly, "it is a thing of spirit, and it will be the more pleasure to tame it.

I am tired of birds that come fluttering into my hands and cling to me when I no longer desire them.

Upon my word, I like you the better for it.