Part 10 (1/2)
”And it's the real cause why I don't go back to England.”
”The mischief it is! Why, Dacres, I'll be hanged if you're not using the very words I myself used a few minutes ago.”
”Am I?” said Dacres, gloomily.
”You certainly are; and that makes me think that our affairs are in a similar complication.”
”Oh no; mine is very peculiar.”
”Well, there's one thing I should like to ask, and you needn't answer unless you like.”
”Well?”
”Doesn't your difficulty arise from some confounded woman or other?”
”Well--yes.”
”By Jove, I knew it! And, old fellow, I'm in the same situation.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”BY JOVE, I KNEW IT!”]
”Oh ho! So you're driven away from England by a woman?”
”Exactly.”
Dacres sighed heavily.
”Yours can't be as bad as mine,” said he, with a dismal look. ”Mine is the worst sc.r.a.pe that ever you heard of. And look at me now, with the child-angel all ready to take me, and me not able to be taken.
Confound the abominable complications of an accursed civilization, I say!”
”And I say, Amen!” said Hawbury.
CHAPTER VI.
THE FIERY TRIAL.
”See here, old chap,” said Hawbury, ”I'm going to make a clean breast of it.”
”Of what?”
”Of my affair.”
”That's right,” said Dacres, dolefully. ”I should like of all things to hear it.”
”You see I wouldn't tell you, only you yourself turn out to be in a similar situation, and so what I have to say may prove of use to you.
At any rate, you may give me some useful suggestion.
”Very well, then,” continued Hawbury--”to begin. You may remember that I told you when we met here where I had been pa.s.sing the time since I saw you last.”