Part 39 (1/2)
Andrew looked up quickly, but merely answered--
”Oh, indeed?”
”We've been seeing Ellen.”
”What about?”
Mr. Walkingshaw threw himself into a chair.
”My boy,” said he, with the air of friendly commiseration which he felt that the occasion undoubtedly demanded, ”I find I was right about your rival.”
Andrew remained calm, though not quite so calm as before.
”Do you mean there's some one else after her?”
”He's got her.”
The calm departed.
”Got! What the deuce d'ye mean?”
”She has chosen another, Andrew.”
”Chosen! But she's no choice left her. She's engaged to me.”
”She was engaged to you. She's now engaged to him.”
”To _him_? Who the dev--er--what are you driving at? Who's the man?”
”Frank.”
”Frank!”
Andrew stared at his father incredulously.
”I don't believe a word of it.”
”Well, you may ask Frank if you like; but I a.s.sure you you can take my word for it.”
It was characteristic of Andrew's robust mind that, instead of wasting time in noisy vaporings and sentimental sorrow, it seized at once the weak point in the case.
”But he can't afford to marry.”
”Oh, I'll see to that.”
”_You'll_ see!” shouted Andrew. ”Do you mean to say _you've_ had a finger in the pie?”
”Four fingers and a thumb,” smiled his parent.
Once more Andrew, without waste of words in expostulation or commentary, summarized the situation in a sentence--