Before either Mr.
Franklin or I could say a word, Sergeant Cuff struck in smoothly, with an appearance of continuing the previous conversation.
"You needn't be afraid of harming the girl, sir," he said to Mr.
Franklin, speaking in a loud voice, so that Rosanna might hear him.

"On the contrary, I recommend you to honour me with your confidence, if you feel any interest in Rosanna Spearman." Mr.Franklin instantly took on not to have noticed the girls either.

He answered, speaking loudly on his side: "I take no interest whatever in Rosanna Spearman." I looked towards the end of the walk.

All I saw at the distance was that Rosanna suddenly turned round, the moment Mr.Franklin had spoken.
Instead of resisting Penelope, as she had done the moment before, she now let my daughter take her by the arm and lead her back to the house.
The breakfast-bell rang as the two girls disappeared--and even Sergeant Cuff was now obliged to give it up as a bad job! He said to me quietly, "I shall go to Frizinghall, Mr.Betteredge; and I shall be back before two." He went his way without a word more--and for some few hours we were well rid of him.
"You must make it right with Rosanna," Mr.Franklin said to me, when we were alone.

"I seem to be fated to say or do something awkward, before that unlucky girl.