Part 34 (1/2)
”Be quiet, Maria. Let the shallow-brained young idiot speak,” growled Wilton. ”Now, sir, answer me--have you gone through some form of marriage?”
”Who with?” said the young man, with a grin.
”Answer my question, sir. Have you gone through some form of marriage?”
”I? No. I'm free enough, guv'nor.”
”You have not?” cried Wilton, aghast. ”You mean to tell me that you have taken that poor girl away somewhere, and have not married her?”
”No, I don't mean to tell you anything of the sort. Here, mother, is the pater going mad?”
”Silence, Maria; don't answer him.”
”Yes, do ma. What does it all mean? Has Kitty bolted?”
”She's drowned--she's drowned, my boy.”
”Nonsense, ma! You're always thinking someone is drowned. Then she has bolted. Oh, I say!”
”No, sir; she has not bolted, as you term it in your miserable horsey slang. You've taken her away--there; don't deny it. You've got her somewhere, and you think you can set me at defiance.”
”Do I, guv'nor?”
”Yes, sir, you do. But I've warned you and shown you how you stand.
Now, look here; your only chance is to give up and do exactly as I tell you.”
”Oh, is it?” said the young man mockingly.
”Yes, sir, it is. Now then, be frank and open with me at once, and I may be able to help you out of the miserable hole in which you have plunged us.”
”Go ahead, then. Have it your own way, guv'nor.”
”No time must be lost--that is, if you are not deceiving me and have already had the ceremony performed.”
”I didn't stand on ceremony,” said Claud, with a laughing sneer; ”I gave her a few kisses, and a nice row was the result.”
”Will you be serious, sir?”
”Yes, I'm serious enough. Where has she gone?”
”Where have you taken her?”
”I haven't taken her anywhere, guv'nor.”
”Do you mean to tell me, sir, that you did not go up a ladder to her window?”
”Hullo!”
”Bring her down and take her right away?”