return.
What did he mean? He was going to make a serious business of this affair. Arthur
felt his temper rising. A patronising disposition always has its meaner side,
and in the confusion of his irritation and alarm there entered the feeling that
a man to whom he had shown so much favour as to Adam, was not in a position to
criticise his conduct. And yet he was dominated, as one who feels himself in the
wrong always is, by the man whose good opinion he cares for. In spite of pride
and temper, there was as much deprecation as anger in his voice when he said -
    »What do you mean, Adam?«
    »I mean, sir,« answered Adam, in the same harsh voice, still without turning
round, - »I mean, sir, that you don't deceive me by your light words. This is
not the first time you've met Hetty Sorrel in this grove, and this is not the
first time you've kissed her.«
    Arthur felt a startled uncertainty how far Adam was speaking from knowledge,
and how far from mere inference. And this uncertainty, which prevented him from
contriving a prudent answer, heightened his irritation. He said in a high sharp
tone -
    »Well, sir, what then?«
    »Why, then, instead of acting like th' upright, honourable man we've all
believed you to be, you've been acting the part of a selfish light-minded
scoundrel. You know, as well as I do, what it's to lead to, when a gentleman
like you kisses and makes love to a young woman like Hetty, and gives her
presents as she's frightened for other folks to see. And I say it again, you're
acting the part of a selfish, light-minded scoundrel, though it cuts me to th'
heart to say so, and I'd rather ha' lost my right hand.«
    »Let me tell you, Adam,« said Arthur, bridling his growing anger, and trying
to recur to his careless tone, »you're not only devilishly impertinent, but
you're talking nonsense. Every pretty girl is not such a fool as you, to suppose
that when a gentleman admires her beauty, and pays her a little attention, he
must mean something particular. Every man likes to flirt with a pretty girl, and
every pretty girl likes to be flirted with. The wider the distance between them
the less harm there is, for then she's not