"I believe every word he says. You can see he is a gentleman in disguise," said Mrs. Coonie.
"Better sure than sorry. Make inquiries first."
"No," said Mrs. Coonie; "delays are dangerous. Come, Annie, you promised before witnesses to marry him. Don't perjure yourself!"
The girl rose very reluctantly, and was pushed by her mother towards the buggy, which was standing a few yards away. She was crying bitterly.
"What's all this, I would like to know?" roared Alec, who had thrust his head out of the spare bedroom window.
No one replied. Lanky became white as a sheet, and trembled like an aspen-leaf.
Alec, by the aid of a stick, came hopping out at the back door. He held on by a water-butt, and said, "Annie, what's the matter with you? What's the meaning of all this?"
"They want to force me to marry Lanky."
"And you don't want to?"