"Who's he?"
"The family solicitor."
"Well, do.... I advise you to, by all means."
Here Charlotte stepped forward. She put her arm about her white, suddenly subdued sister, and looked sternly at her husband.
"Joe.... I'm surprised at you!" she said. "A Virginia gentleman being so cruel to a woman!"
"Pooh!" said the Judge a third time. He was in a state of flagrant rebellion. "Stuff!... I'm being a Virginia lawyer and a mighty good friend. If I wasn't darned fond of Sophy, I wouldn't go on like this, you may be sure. Whew!"
He wiped his brow and looked at his handkerchief as though expecting to see it incarnadined. It really was like sweating blood to try to talk reason into one so hopelessly unpractical and hifalutin as Sophy.
"I'll look forward to reading Mr. Surtees's letter with great interest," he remarked grimly.
Sophy had a flash of spirit.
"No matter what he says, I shan't accept alimony!" she retorted.